Perching is a fundamental natural behaviour for hens, driven by the instinct to roost above the ground for safety at night. Providing adequate perching in commercial laying systems is essential but fraught with welfare trade-offs including keel bone fractures.
Perch provision for laying hens presents a genuine welfare dilemma: hens have a strong, inbuilt drive to roost at height for safety, yet the current design of perching systems in commercial aviary housing causes a significant welfare problem through keel bone fractures. The fracture epidemic in cage-free housing — with prevalence consistently above 50% in research studies — represents a previously underrecognised welfare cost of the cage-free transition. Keel bone fractures cause chronic pain that reduces activity and feeding behaviour. The solution is not to remove perches — which would create different welfare harms — but to redesign perching systems to minimise collision and fall risk. Research has identified perch geometry, approach ramp provision, and strategic placement as key modifiable factors. The welfare case for perches is strong despite fracture risk; the priority is improving perch design to realise the benefits of roosting behaviour while minimising the physical harm from inadequate installation.