Perch access is one of the most important environmental factors for laying hen welfare, affecting bone health, natural behavior expression, and overall quality of life in housed systems.
Perch access represents a critical welfare dimension in laying hen housing. Hens deprived of perches cannot express one of their most strongly motivated behaviors — roosting at height — and develop the physical consequences of this deprivation in the form of severely weakened bones. The welfare paradox of furnished cages is that while perches are provided, keel bone fracture rates are alarmingly high due to falls from poorly designed structures. Aviary systems with better perch design and gradual ramp access show improved keel bone outcomes. The solution requires attention to both perch provision and perch design, including appropriate diameter, material, and spacing to prevent falls and foot injuries. Keel bone fracture — a painful condition — is one of the most important unresolved welfare problems in laying hen production globally.