Furnished (enriched) cages were introduced across the EU to replace battery cages, providing more space and basic enrichment, but welfare assessments show they remain significantly inferior to well-managed barn and free range systems.
Furnished cages represent an improvement over battery cages but fall well short of providing adequate welfare for hens. The small space allowance prevents normal behavioral expression despite theoretical access to nest boxes and perches. High stocking densities create social stress and limit actual use of enrichment features by subordinate hens. Welfare science consistently demonstrates that barn and free range systems, when well-managed, provide substantially better welfare outcomes than even the best enriched cage operations. Consumer and retailer commitments to cage-free sourcing are driving the industry transition that welfare science supports.