Beyond farm welfare, the egg industry involves processing, transport, and by-product uses that have welfare implications. Understanding the full egg supply chain reveals welfare considerations often invisible to consumers.
The welfare of laying hens does not end at the farm gate — end-of-life handling and transport for slaughter raise serious welfare concerns that receive less public attention than farm housing. Spent hens, at the end of their laying career, are typically thin, may have significant bone health problems, and face transport to slaughter under conditions that cause significant welfare stress. The economic value of spent hens is minimal — often negative — creating powerful incentives to minimize transport and slaughter costs. Some spent hens are transported to far cheaper slaughter facilities, extending journey times beyond what their compromised physical condition can tolerate well. In some markets, on-farm killing of spent hens avoids transport but requires appropriate methods. Welfare certification for eggs should extend to end-of-life handling and not focus exclusively on farm conditions.