Modern broiler chickens are kept in large sheds at high densities, and enrichment provisions significantly improve their ability to express natural behaviours and reduce suffering.
Broiler enrichment is one of the clearest wins in farm animal welfare - low-cost interventions that produce measurable improvements in natural behaviour and reduced welfare indicators like hock burn and footpad dermatitis. Birds in enriched environments show more exploratory behaviour, perching, and dust bathing. However, enrichment cannot compensate for excessively fast growth rates in standard breeds, which cause chronic pain and difficulty walking. Breed reform alongside enrichment is the most effective welfare improvement.