Positive welfare in poultry involves enabling behaviors that reflect genuine contentment and engagement. Dustbathing, perching, and foraging are key indicators of positive poultry welfare.
Poultry positive welfare has moved from theory to practical assessment with the development of specific behavioral indicators that can be measured at commercial scale. Dustbathing is particularly valuable as an indicator: it requires substrates to be available, sufficient space, absence of fear, and physical health to perform. Hens that dustbathe are simultaneously expressing behavioral preference, physical health, and positive affective state. Perching at height satisfies evolutionary motivations that remain strong in domestic chickens. Farms that provide substrates for dustbathing, perches, and foraging materials produce measurably more positive welfare outcomes that can be documented, certified, and communicated to consumers.