The transition from conventional battery cages to enriched colony systems represents a significant but incomplete step forward in laying hen welfare, with important implications for bird behavior and health.
The transition to enriched colony cages represents genuine welfare progress but falls short of meeting hens' full behavioral needs. While nesting and perching opportunities are improvements, the space allowance remains severely restricted, preventing normal ranging behavior. Keel bone fractures, which cause chronic pain, are paradoxically more common in enriched than conventional systems due to falls from perches. Truly good welfare for laying hens requires systems that allow expression of the full range of natural behaviors, including foraging, dust bathing, and social interaction in appropriate group sizes.