Dust bathing is a highly motivated natural behaviour in chickens that is severely restricted or absent in intensive cage systems, causing significant frustration and welfare harm.
Dust bathing represents a strong behavioural need in chickens. Hens denied appropriate substrate show evidence of frustration through vacuum bathing and rebound behaviour when given access to litter. This behaviour is not merely a learned luxury but appears to be intrinsically motivated. Providing appropriate loose substrate is one of the most welfare-relevant housing improvements for laying hens.