Environmental enrichment in broiler production is one of the most cost-effective welfare interventions, significantly improving activity levels, leg health, and positive behavioral repertoire.
Conventional broiler houses fail to meet the behavioral needs of chickens, who in natural settings are active, curious foragers. Providing simple enrichment — straw bales to perch on, pecking objects, platforms — transforms broiler behavior: birds explore, socialize normally, and spend far less time sitting inactive. The welfare benefits compound: more active birds develop stronger legs, suffer less lameness, and have better overall health. The cost of basic enrichment is modest, and many welfare certification standards now mandate minimum enrichment provision. Scaling these practices to conventional production requires continued consumer and retailer pressure.