Farm Animals

Laying Hen End-of-Lay Welfare Challenges

The welfare challenges associated with depopulation of laying hen flocks at end of productive life, including transportation and slaughter.

Key Facts

End-of-lay hens are often in poor physical condition after a production cycle
Catching, loading, and transport cause significant stress and injury risk
Many end-of-lay hens are slaughtered without effective pre-slaughter stunning
Limited commercial value of spent hens reduces incentive for welfare investment
Some producers use controlled atmosphere killing in-house to avoid transport stress

Welfare Considerations

End-of-lay hens face a welfare crisis at the conclusion of their productive lives. Poor condition, rough handling, and inadequate slaughter welfare mean that the final hours are often the worst in the animal's life.

What You Can Do

Advocate for mandatory humane handling requirements at end-of-lay depopulation
Support in-house humane culling programs that avoid stressful transport
Campaign for stunning requirements before slaughter of laying hens