Farm Animals

Hen Welfare at End of Lay: The Fate of Spent Hens

At the end of their laying lives, hens face slaughter, rehoming, or premature death. Understanding the welfare implications of different end-of-lay practices is essential.

Key Facts

Laying hens are typically slaughtered at 72 weeks in intensive systems
Spent hens are in poor condition - feather loss, keel fractures, and bone fragility are common
Transport to slaughter in spent hens causes high mortality compared to broilers
On-farm killing is used where birds are too fragile for transport
Rehoming schemes place spent hens in domestic gardens but meet only minimal demand
Bone fragility from calcium depletion causes fractures during handling and slaughter

Welfare Considerations

Spent hens suffer from accumulated welfare problems at the time of slaughter. Their skeletal fragility means handling and transport cause injuries that would be unacceptable earlier in life. Slaughter facilities may not be equipped for the volume or condition of spent hens. The welfare of the final hours of a laying hen's life is poorly studied and underregulated compared to broiler slaughter. Better end-of-lay protocols and infrastructure are urgently needed.

What You Can Do

Adopt rescue hens through reputable organisations like the British Hen Welfare Trust
Advocate for spent hen slaughter to receive the same welfare scrutiny as broiler slaughter
Support campaigns improving transport and slaughter conditions for end-of-lay hens