Perching is a fundamental behavioural need for laying hens, and providing appropriate perches significantly improves welfare in aviary and free-range systems.
Perching at night is not merely a preference for laying hens — it is a deeply motivated behaviour rooted in evolutionary predator avoidance. Hens that cannot perch cannot adopt their natural sleeping posture or the elevated vantage point that allows vigilance against ground-level threats. Stress from inability to perch compounds other welfare challenges in cage and enriched colony systems. In aviary systems, perch design determines whether hens can use provided perches safely — poorly positioned or designed perches contribute to the keel bone fractures that are one of the major welfare problems in cage-free production. Welfare-positive perch design combines appropriate height, surface material, and landing area design to allow natural behaviour without injury risk.