Providing enrichment for broiler chickens goes beyond meeting minimum space requirements - it means offering environmental features that allow expression of natural behaviours.
Space alone does not meet the welfare needs of broiler chickens. Research consistently shows that broilers with access to environmental enrichment - perches, pecking objects, litter for foraging, elevated resting areas - are more active, have fewer leg problems, and show greater expression of natural behaviours. Enrichment works best when combined with slower-growing breeds and better lighting regimes. Straw bales, particularly in the early weeks of life, dramatically increase foraging activity and reduce stereotypic standing. The scientific evidence base for broiler enrichment is robust; the challenge is translating it into widespread farm practice. Consumer choice for enriched-environment broiler products creates the commercial incentive for change.