Perching is a fundamental behavioral need for laying hens, driven by a strong instinct to roost above the ground for safety. Perch design significantly affects whether hens can express this behavior without injury.
Perch provision for laying hens intersects two of the most significant welfare issues in poultry production: behavioral need expression and keel bone health. The motivation to perch is among the strongest behavioral priorities for hens, and its frustration in systems without perches causes measurable distress. However, provision of perches alone does not guarantee good welfare outcomes: poorly designed perches can cause or worsen the keel bone fractures that already affect the majority of commercial hens. Landing from elevated perches onto hard floors creates impact forces that fracture the keelbone — a long-term source of chronic pain that reduces activity and feeding behavior. Perch design research has established that round perches of appropriate diameter, with non-slip surfaces and adequate spacing below perch level for cushioned landing, significantly reduce fracture incidence. Welfare certification schemes increasingly specify perch design parameters rather than simply requiring perch provision, reflecting this more nuanced understanding of how design affects welfare outcomes.