Enrichment for Laying Hens: What Works and Why

Laying hens are strongly motivated to perform a range of natural behaviours. Providing appropriate enrichment dramatically improves welfare in cage-free and barn systems.

Key Facts

Laying hens have five core behavioural needs: nesting, perching, foraging, dustbathing, and social interaction
Provision of nesting boxes reduces frustration pacing and pre-lay vocalisation
Perches reduce foot and leg problems and allow hens to perform natural roosting
Foraging substrates including chopped straw reduce feather pecking significantly
The RSPCA Assured standard specifies minimum enrichment requirements for laying hens

Welfare Considerations

Laying hen welfare research has identified specific, implementable enrichment interventions with large impact. Nesting boxes are used consistently by 95%+ of hens before laying — their absence causes prolonged distress. Perching use is high at night and during rest periods; its absence causes leg and foot problems. Foraging substrates reduce the redirected pecking that causes feather damage and mortality in flocks. These enrichments cost little relative to the welfare improvement they deliver.

What You Can Do

Choose eggs from enriched barn, free-range, or organic systems rather than cage systems
Support the European cage-free egg commitment from major retailers
Advocate for mandatory enrichment standards in commercial egg production
Reduce egg consumption to lower demand from welfare-compromised systems
Share information about what meaningful enrichment means for laying hens