Enriched cages were introduced as an improvement over battery cages, but evidence shows they fall far short of meeting laying hen behavioral needs. Understanding the gap between marketing and welfare reality matters for informed consumer choices.
Enriched cages were intended as a welfare improvement, but research consistently shows they fail to meet key hen behavioral needs. The perch and nest box in most systems are too small and poorly positioned to be meaningfully used. Dustbathing with inadequate substrate results in vacuum dustbathing — the same frustration indicator seen in battery cages. While enriched cages represent a marginal improvement, they do not constitute adequate welfare. Consumers choosing "cage-free" products should verify the certification used, as labeling can be misleading and cage-free barn systems vary significantly in quality.