Dust bathing is a highly motivated natural behavior in chickens that is frustrated in most commercial production systems, causing chronic behavioral deprivation.
Frustration of highly motivated behaviors like dust bathing constitutes a significant welfare harm. Hens denied litter show abnormal vacuum dust bathing, indicating strong motivation that cannot be satisfied. The inability to perform natural behaviors is associated with chronic stress. Providing adequate litter - sufficient quantity and appropriate material like fine wood shavings, sand, or peat - should be a minimum standard across all commercial egg production systems.