Enrichment for broiler chickens must address their natural behavioral repertoire. Evidence-based enrichment improves welfare for one of the world's most numerous farmed animals.
Standard commercial broiler environments with poor litter quality, high stocking density, and artificial lighting severely restrict behavioral expression. Even with their mobility limitations, broilers retain motivations to peck, scratch, and dust-bathe. Meeting these motivations reduces frustration and provides positive welfare states. The most impactful enrichments are also the lowest-cost: good litter quality, natural light access, and simple pecking materials improve welfare meaningfully at the scale of billions of birds.