Laying Hen End-of-Lay Welfare: Transport and Slaughter

End-of-lay laying hens are among the most welfare-compromised birds at slaughter, with high rates of osteoporosis, keel bone fractures, and poor body condition making transport and handling particularly harmful.

Key Facts

End-of-lay hens typically have 30-40% keel bone fracture prevalence at slaughter
Osteoporosis from calcium depletion for eggshell production makes bones fragile
Poor body condition means thin skin that tears easily during mechanical catching
Catching and loading operations cause significantly higher injury rates than for broilers
Some spent hens are euthanised on farm rather than transported due to welfare concerns

Welfare Considerations

End-of-lay laying hens represent a profound welfare challenge at the point of slaughter. Osteoporosis resulting from calcium mobilisation for eggshell production creates extreme bone fragility, making even minor physical trauma during catching and loading cause fractures and pain. Thin skin tears easily during mechanical handling. The combination of poor body condition, skeletal fragility, and high injury risk makes the final hours of laying hen life among the most welfare-compromised in commercial egg production. Improved catching protocols, on-farm euthanasia for the most compromised birds, and reduced transport times all improve welfare outcomes.

What You Can Do

Advocate for mandatory keel bone and injury assessment at slaughter as welfare indicators
Support improved catching and handling protocols specifically designed for fragile end-of-lay hens
Engage with retailers on requiring end-of-lay welfare auditing in their egg supply chains
Choose eggs from higher-welfare systems that demonstrate lower keel bone fracture rates
Raise awareness of end-of-lay welfare as a critical gap in laying hen welfare standards