Upon
completion of the molting process, the reproductive system
is rejuvenated, allowing the bird to enter into an egg
production cycle. In commercial systems, this process is
often induced in older table egg laying hens to increase
egg production. The most widely used method of inducing
this molt is by the withdrawal of feed (also referred
to as feed deprivation) for a period of several days in
order to reach a target weight loss of approximately
25–30%