Laying Hen Pullet Rearing and Welfare

Pullet rearing conditions before the laying period significantly affect adult hen welfare. Early exposure to aviary systems prevents fear responses and injuries in adult flocks.

Key Facts

Pullets reared in cage systems show higher fear responses and injury rates when transferred to aviary systems
Early aviary rearing dramatically reduces adult keel bone fracture rates from fall-related injuries
Learning to use multi-tier aviary systems requires development of perching and flying skills from early age
Matching rearing and laying environments reduces mortality and welfare problems during the critical transfer period
Some producers now ensure rearing and laying environments match to improve transition welfare

Welfare Considerations

Pullet rearing welfare is an upstream determinant of adult hen welfare outcomes. Hens transferred from cage rearing to aviary laying systems at 18 weeks must navigate complex multi-level environments they have no experience with, resulting in falls, injuries, and behavioral fear. Matching rearing to laying environment is a systemic welfare improvement that reduces harm without additional infrastructure cost.

What You Can Do

Support egg producers who match pullet rearing to adult laying system environments
Advocate for rearing environment matching as a requirement in aviary welfare certification
Ask egg retailers about the rearing systems used for their laying hen suppliers
Support research into pullet rearing welfare and its impact on adult hen welfare outcomes