Laying Hen Enrichment Science | Animal Welfare Hub

Scientific research on laying hen enrichment has identified specific environmental features that significantly improve welfare. Translating this science into farm practice is a major industry challenge.

Key Facts

Hens are highly motivated to access perches, nest boxes, and dust bathing substrate
Preference tests demonstrate that hens strongly prefer to lay eggs in nest boxes over open areas
Access to perching reduces fearfulness and provides choice of thermal environment
Foraging enrichment reduces redirected aggression and feather pecking in high-density systems
Providing appropriate enrichment reduces the productivity losses from injurious behaviors
Enriched environments must be designed to prevent environmental features becoming injury hazards

Welfare Considerations

Laying hen enrichment science provides clear guidance on what features significantly improve welfare, but translating this into commercial practice remains challenging. The enrichment hierarchy places perches, nesting material, and dust bathing substrate as highest-priority provisions. Lower tiers include foraging substrate, environmental complexity, and varied sensory stimulation. The challenge in commercial furnished and aviary systems is providing these at sufficient quality and quantity for the large numbers of birds involved. Research shows welfare-optimal enrichment provision requires more than meeting minimum regulatory requirements. Investment in enrichment design and management training is needed to achieve the welfare benefits that research demonstrates are achievable.

What You Can Do

Choose eggs from systems that specify enrichment provisions beyond minimum regulatory requirements
Support retailers and brands that require higher enrichment standards from egg suppliers
Advocate for enrichment quality standards in egg certification schemes not just enrichment presence
Reduce egg consumption or choose plant-based alternatives to reduce demand for current systems