Broiler chickens have behavioral needs for foraging, dustbathing, and perching that are rarely met in conventional systems. Enrichment provision improves welfare and is required in higher-welfare certification standards.
Broiler enrichment is among the most cost-effective welfare interventions available in commercial poultry production. Straw bales, perches, and litter provision address multiple behavioral needs simultaneously and are feasible within existing shed designs. The finding that enriched environments show comparable growth performance removes the economic disincentive that historically opposed enrichment adoption. Corporate commitments through the Better Chicken Commitment create market incentives that drive enrichment adoption beyond what regulatory frameworks alone have achieved. Consumer demand for BCC-committed products directly drives this welfare improvement.