Pullet Rearing Welfare: Setting the Foundation for Laying Hen Health

The welfare of pullets during rearing fundamentally shapes the health and behaviour of adult laying hens. Good rearing practices reduce fearfulness, bone fragility, and mortality.

Key Facts

Pullets are young female chickens reared from hatch to point-of-lay at approximately 16-18 weeks
Fearfulness developed during rearing predicts adult stress responses and production performance
Early access to perches significantly improves bone strength and reduces keel bone fractures in adults
Transfer from rearing to laying facilities causes significant stress and disruption
Beak trimming of pullets is still common in many systems to reduce injurious pecking risk

Welfare Considerations

Pullet rearing welfare is foundational to adult laying hen welfare. Pullets reared in bare, unstimulating environments develop fearful, stress-prone personalities. Those reared with perches, foraging substrates, and appropriate lighting develop stronger bones and better behavioural repertoires. The transfer from rearing to laying facilities is a high-stress event and synchronising rearing and laying environments reduces adaptation stress. Genetic selection for docile, low-fear personality traits is being explored as an alternative to beak trimming. Investing in good rearing welfare has clear downstream welfare and production benefits.

What You Can Do

Choose eggs from producers with transparency about their pullet rearing systems
Support welfare certification schemes that cover pullet rearing standards
Advocate for enriched rearing environments as a standard requirement
Learn about the connection between pullet welfare and adult hen performance