Cage-free laying hen welfare depends critically on the quality of enrichment provided. Research on what hens actually need is improving standards in cage-free and free-range systems.
Cage-free egg production represents welfare progress over battery cages, but the quality of cage-free welfare varies enormously between facilities. Research on laying hen behavioral needs has identified specific enrichment elements that meaningfully improve welfare: dustbathing material, private nest boxes, perches at multiple heights, and foraging substrate. Systems that provide these elements show lower rates of feather-pecking, better bone strength from exercise, and behavioral indicators of positive welfare. Consumer understanding that 'cage-free' alone is insufficient without good enrichment is growing, driving more sophisticated label choices and producer investment in genuinely enriched housing systems.