Laying hens have complex behavioral needs that cage systems prevent expression of. Understanding hen behavioral biology guides welfare-conscious egg production system design.
Laying hen welfare is shaped by the fundamental mismatch between the behavioral needs of chickens evolved in complex environments and the conditions of intensive housing systems. The pre-laying frustration of hens unable to find private nest sites, the inability to dust bathe in cage systems, and the elimination of perching opportunities create chronic behavioral need frustration that constitutes ongoing welfare compromise. Barn and free-range systems that provide access to these behavioral resources allow hens to express their behavioral repertoire but require good management to prevent feather pecking and resource competition that can replace one welfare problem with another.