Environmental enrichment for laying hens and broiler chickens significantly improves welfare by enabling natural behaviours. Perches, dust baths, pecking objects and natural light are the most evidence-supported welfare interventions.
Poultry enrichment welfare research demonstrates that environmental complexity produces measurable welfare improvements that do not compromise production economics. Hens with perch access show lower keel bone fracture rates — keel bone fractures are painful injuries affecting the majority of laying hens in cage-free systems without proper perch design. Dust bathing in appropriate substrate (peat, sand, wood shavings) reduces dusty feather bathing on inadequate substrates and provides a strong positive welfare state. Feed enrichment — scatter feeding, hanging vegetables, pecking blocks — reduces feather pecking incidence. Farms that implement full enrichment packages (perches, dust baths, pecking objects, natural light) consistently achieve the lowest feather pecking and cannibalism rates.