Farm Animal Welfare

Laying Hen Moulting Welfare

Induced moulting of laying hens to extend the productive lay cycle raises welfare concerns about the stress, food withdrawal, and physiological disruption involved.

Key Facts

Moulting naturally occurs annually as hens shed and regrow feathers
Induced moulting in commercial systems uses feed withdrawal or low-nutrient diets
Food withdrawal for moulting can last 5-14 days causing significant hunger and stress
Low-nutrient diets using aluminium oxide or low-protein feeds provide welfare improvement
Moulting extends lay cycles but involves real welfare trade-offs for hens

Welfare Considerations

Induced moulting is practiced to extend lay cycle economics but involves genuine welfare costs including hunger stress and physiological disruption. Where moulting is practiced, low-nutrient feed alternatives to food withdrawal represent the minimum welfare improvement that should be required.

What You Can Do

Support egg production standards that prohibit food withdrawal moulting
Learn about the welfare implications of different moulting methods
Choose eggs from certified systems with clear moulting standards