Laying Hen End-of-Lay Management

End-of-lay hens are often in poor condition after 72 weeks of intensive production. Humane management of this transition phase is a significant but overlooked welfare issue.

Key Facts

60 million laying hens are slaughtered annually in the UK alone at end of lay
Many hens have fractured keel bones (up to 80% in some flocks) by end of lay
Hens at 72 weeks weigh significantly less than broilers and have poor breast muscle mass
End-of-lay hens are often of limited commercial value, reducing incentive for welfare investment
Some end-of-lay hens are rehomed through charities - around 150,000 per year in the UK

Welfare Considerations

The final weeks of lay are a welfare-critical period. Hens may be exhausted, injured and transport-stressed after a long production cycle. Transport to slaughter in poorly designed crates causes additional injury to already fragile birds. Slaughter must be efficient and humane; stunning efficacy is especially important for spent hens with lower muscle mass. Rehoming schemes provide an alternative for small producers and reconnect the public with the realities of egg production.

What You Can Do

Choose eggs from producers with verified welfare standards including end-of-lay protocols
Support hen rehoming charities that re-home spent hens from commercial flocks
Reduce egg consumption frequency to enable purchasing higher-welfare eggs
Advocate for mandatory keel bone monitoring and injury reporting in laying flocks
Ask supermarkets to require end-of-lay welfare audits from their egg suppliers