Farm Animal Welfare

Hens and Nesting Motivation in Laying Systems

Nesting is one of the most strongly motivated behaviors in laying hens — and its frustration in caged systems is a primary welfare deficit driving cage-free reform worldwide.

Key Facts

Nesting motivation peaks in the hour before egg-laying and is among the strongest in poultry
Hens deprived of nests show persistent distress vocalizations and agitation for 60-90 minutes
Even experienced nest deprivation does not diminish nesting motivation in subsequent cycles
Nest boxes in enriched systems reduce pre-laying distress substantially
Nest competition in inadequately provisioned systems causes injury and stress

Welfare Considerations

The nesting drive in laying hens is extraordinarily strong — stronger than hunger in some experimental contexts. Hens in systems without nest access experience acute, cyclically recurring distress that is measurable, persistent, and repeated daily throughout their productive lives. No other farm animal welfare intervention delivers as consistent a benefit as providing appropriate nesting facilities to laying hens.

What You Can Do

Choose eggs from systems providing adequate nest boxes per hen
Support campaigns for mandatory nest provision standards in all laying hen regulations
Engage food companies on nest provision requirements in their egg supply chains
Advocate for the elimination of all caged systems that cannot provide adequate nesting
Follow poultry welfare research from groups at Bristol and Wageningen on nesting behavior