Laying Hen Perching and Welfare | Animal Welfare Hub

Perching is a natural behaviour for laying hens that significantly improves welfare by reducing keel bone fractures, improving bone strength, and enabling expression of natural roosting instinct.

Key Facts

Hens in cages with perches have stronger bones than those without
Keel bone fractures are significantly less common in hens that use perches from a young age
The roosting instinct in hens is strongly motivated - they will actively seek elevated resting sites
Perch height and material affect whether hens use them - rounded, elevated perches are preferred
UK free range and barn standards require perches but do not specify diameter or height

Welfare Considerations

Perching is not a luxury for laying hens - it is a biological necessity. Hens that cannot perch show frustration behaviours and have weaker bones than perching hens. Keel bone fractures, which affect 50-80% of commercial laying hens, are significantly reduced in populations that perch from rearing. The keel bone becomes denser and more resistant to fracture with regular perching activity. Well-designed perch systems that allow all birds to perch simultaneously, at appropriate heights with rounded corners to prevent keel damage during landing, represent a significant welfare improvement.

What You Can Do

Choose eggs from systems with documented perch access and quality
Advocate for perch design standards in laying hen welfare certification
Support research into perch design that minimises keel bone fracture risk
Ask egg retailers about perching compliance rates in their supply chains
Support introduction of keel bone fracture rates as a welfare indicator in egg certification