Farm Animal Welfare

Broiler Welfare: Environmental Complexity and Behaviour

Broiler chickens raised in enriched environments with perches, straw bales and elevated structures show improved welfare outcomes compared to barren house conditions.

Key Facts

Barren broiler housing provides no structures for exploration, perching or hiding
Environmental enrichment reduces fearfulness and improves dust bathing and foraging behaviour
Perches used from an early age improve leg bone strength and reduce skeletal problems
Straw bales provide resting, foraging and scratching opportunities
The Better Chicken Commitment requires environmental enrichment including perches and enrichment materials

Welfare Considerations

Environmental complexity addresses multiple welfare needs simultaneously in broiler production - leg health through perch use, fear reduction through hiding opportunities, foraging motivation through scratch materials and cognitive engagement through novel objects. Enrichment does not require fundamental changes to housing infrastructure but significantly transforms welfare outcomes for the billions of broilers raised annually.

What You Can Do

Choose chicken products from Better Chicken Commitment-compliant brands
Support campaigns calling for environmental enrichment standards in broiler production
Learn about the welfare research on broiler environmental complexity
Ask fast food chains and retailers whether they have committed to higher welfare broiler standards