Laying hens have strong innate drives to dustbathe, perch, forage, and nest. The progressive shift from bare cages to enriched and cage-free systems represents one of the largest active improvements in farmed animal welfare globally.
The transition from battery cages to enriched and cage-free systems is one of the most significant active welfare reforms in animal agriculture. Battery cages prevent virtually all natural behaviour — hens cannot spread their wings, dustbathe, nest, or perch. Enriched cages provide minimal improvements but are considered by most welfare scientists to be an inadequate halfway measure. Cage-free systems allow natural behaviour expression but introduce new welfare challenges: keel bone fractures from perch falls are pervasive in modern laying flocks and cause chronic pain that is too often unremarked. Multi-tier aviaries, when well-designed with appropriate perch spacing and litter access, can minimise fracture risk while providing good behavioural freedom. Free-range access further improves outcomes when hens actually use outdoor areas — which requires appropriate pop-holes, shade, and biosecurity management. The ideal system balances behavioural freedom with injury prevention through thoughtful design and management.