Laying hens have strong behavioural motivations for dustbathing, perching, foraging, and nesting. Enriched housing that provides these resources dramatically improves welfare compared to conventional systems.
Laying hen welfare in enriched environments goes beyond simply meeting physical needs — it requires access to behaviourally satisfying resources that hens are highly motivated to use. A hen denied access to a nest box shows clear distress signs: repeated vocalisation, persistent nest-seeking behaviour, and elevated corticosterone. A hen denied dustbathing substrate performs vacuum dustbathing on wire floors — a frustrated behavioural performance indicating strong motivation without outlet. Welfare labelling that focuses on space allowance misses the critical importance of resource quality and accessibility. Free-range certification that does not verify actual outdoor use rates or range quality provides weaker welfare assurance than the label implies.