Enriched colony cages replaced conventional battery cages in the EU in 2012, offering more space and some behavioural options. But welfare advocates argue they still fail to meet hens' fundamental needs.
Enriched colonies represent an incremental improvement over battery cages in providing basic resources, but welfare scientists largely agree they remain inadequate. Nest boxes in colonies are often shared among too many hens, are poorly positioned, or are occupied by dominant individuals — meaning many hens cannot use them. The fundamental problem — inability to forage naturally, dustbathe properly, or move freely — persists. Cage-free and free-range systems permit much fuller expression of natural behaviours, though they introduce different welfare challenges.