Backyard chicken keeping has grown rapidly, but welfare education has not kept pace, leaving many hens in conditions that fail to meet their behavioral and health needs.
Backyard chicken welfare has unique challenges. Urban and suburban keepers often lack agricultural knowledge, and information from unreliable sources leads to inadequate space, disease management, and nutritional provision. The abandoned hen problem is significant — hens that cease to lay are often surrendered to rescue organizations or killed rather than maintained as companion animals for their natural lifespan. Welfare education should accompany any policy permitting backyard chicken keeping, covering species-specific needs, veterinary care access, disease recognition, and the lifespan commitment involved when hens stop laying.