Farm Animal Welfare

Hen Welfare and Depopulation Practices

Depopulation of laying hen flocks at end-of-lay is a major welfare event. Method of catching, loading, and slaughter all significantly affect final welfare outcomes.

Key Facts

Manual catching and crating is stressful and causes injury to a proportion of birds
Mechanical harvesting reduces handling stress but requires careful management
Fractures are common during depopulation, particularly in osteoporotic hens
Rapid and calm depopulation reduces time birds spend in stressful conditions
On-farm killing using ASEL is increasingly used for end-of-lay hens

Welfare Considerations

Depopulation welfare is often overlooked, but represents a significant welfare event for billions of hens annually. Improving catching, handling, and slaughter methods can substantially reduce end-of-lay suffering.

What You Can Do

Support welfare certification schemes with depopulation criteria
Advocate for improved catching and transport standards for end-of-lay hens
Learn about on-farm killing methods for laying hens
Support research into reduced-stress depopulation methods