Detailed welfare assessment of enriched colony systems for laying hens and their limitations compared to cage-free alternatives.
Enriched colony welfare assessment reveals a system that represents genuine but incomplete welfare improvement. The space increase and provision of nesting and perching facilities improve behavioral welfare compared to battery cages. However, competition for resources in large colonies means not all hens can access nests, perches, and scratch areas simultaneously. Keel bone fractures from perch use — caused by inadequate perch design or hen body weight — represent a welfare problem not eliminated by the enriched system. Progressive market and legislative trends are moving toward cage-free as the standard rather than enriched colony as an endpoint.