* Vast and Diverse Populations: Hens are raised on farms of all sizes, from small backyard flocks to massive industrial facilities, spread across every continent.
* Data Collection Challenges: Tracking the exact number of hens across all these farms would be a monumental task, requiring extensive data collection and coordination.
* Constant Fluctuation: The number of hens changes constantly due to births, deaths, and culling.
However, estimates exist:
* The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations estimates there are approximately 23 billion chickens in the world, including hens, roosters, and chicks. This figure is based on global poultry production data.
* It's assumed that a majority of these chickens are hens raised for egg production, though a precise breakdown is not readily available.
Therefore, while an exact number is elusive, you can safely assume that there are billions of hens across the globe.