Farmed Animals

Foraging Behaviour and Welfare in Chickens

Foraging is a highly motivated natural behaviour in chickens that is denied in most intensive production systems.

Key Facts

Chickens in the wild spend 60-80 percent of their active time foraging for food
Foraging motivation is so strong that hungry chickens will work harder to find food than to eat freely
Providing foraging substrates reduces feather pecking by up to 75 percent in some studies
Scratching, dust bathing, and pecking are all expressions of foraging behaviour
Barren housing completely prevents these behaviours, causing chronic frustration

Welfare Considerations

Foraging is central to chicken psychology and behaviour. Preventing foraging through barren housing does not eliminate the motivation — it creates chronic frustration that manifests as feather pecking, stereotypies, and aggression. Providing adequate foraging opportunity is one of the most impactful welfare improvements available in poultry production.

What You Can Do

Choose chicken and eggs from systems certified with outdoor or enriched indoor access
Support welfare schemes that mandate foraging substrates for all housed chickens
Reduce poultry consumption or switch to higher-welfare sources
Advocate for foraging requirements in all poultry welfare legislation