Dust bathing is one of the most strongly motivated natural behaviours in laying hens, and its frustration in conventional housing is a key welfare concern.
Hens unable to dust bathe show clearly frustrated behaviour performing vacuum dust bathing on wire or slatted floors. The motivation is so strong that it persists even in the absence of suitable substrate. Provision of appropriate dust bathing material satisfies a core behavioural need and is associated with reduced feather pecking in some systems. Ensuring meaningful dust bathing opportunity is a concrete welfare improvement available to most laying hen producers.