The transition from conventional battery cages to enriched cages or cage-free systems has improved hen welfare in important ways, but neither alternative perfectly meets all laying hen welfare needs, and tradeoffs must be understood.
The welfare comparison between enriched cages and cage-free systems involves genuine tradeoffs rather than a simple hierarchy. Cage-free systems enable more natural behaviour expression — hens can walk, flap wings, use elevated perches, and perform nesting behaviour in nest boxes. But freedom of movement introduces collision risks causing keel bone fractures, and the mixing of large groups increases opportunities for injurious feather pecking. Disease spread is also higher in large floor-housed flocks. Well-managed cage-free systems with appropriate genetics, lighting, and stocking density can achieve excellent welfare outcomes. Poorly managed cage-free systems may have worse welfare than well-managed enriched cages. System type is less important than management quality in determining actual hen welfare outcomes.