Farmed Animals

Natural Behaviour in Chickens and Welfare

Chickens have a rich behavioural repertoire including foraging, dust bathing, perching, and social behaviour that is severely restricted in many production systems.

Key Facts

Hens naturally spend up to 60% of daylight time foraging
Perching reduces bone fractures and improves musculoskeletal health in laying hens
Social hierarchies in chickens are stable when group size is small and resources are adequate
Chickens show evidence of empathy and teaching behaviour with their chicks
Environmental complexity in housing significantly improves behavioural welfare in chickens

Welfare Considerations

Chickens are cognitively complex animals with a full suite of natural behaviours including foraging, dust bathing, perching, and social interaction. Systems that prevent these behaviours cause chronic frustration and welfare harm. Evidence of avian intelligence and social cognition strengthens the case for housing systems that enable natural behaviour expression.

What You Can Do

Choose egg and chicken products from systems that enable natural behaviour
Support welfare standards specifying perches, litter, and range access
Advocate for enriched environments as a minimum standard in poultry production
Raise awareness about chicken cognition and natural behaviour needs
Support research into behavioural needs assessment for poultry welfare standards