Farm Animal Welfare

Laying Hen Perch Design and Welfare

Perch design in commercial laying hen systems significantly affects keel bone fracture rates, foot health, and behavioural welfare, with evidence supporting specific design improvements.

Key Facts

Perch diameter, surface texture, and height all affect keel bone fracture rates
Round perches with diameters of 3-4cm cause fewer foot problems than flat or wide perches
Perch height affects flight landing impact, with lower perches reducing keel fracture risk
Hens strongly prefer to perch at night, with deprivation causing welfare problems
Multiple perch levels at varying heights allow individual preference expression

Welfare Considerations

Perch design is a deceptively important welfare lever in aviary and enriched colony systems. Poorly designed perches cause foot pad lesions and increase keel bone fracture rates through hard landings. Yet the same perch systems are essential for expressing the roosting motivation that hens are strongly driven to perform. Optimising perch geometry to reduce injury while maintaining roosting access represents a practical and cost-effective welfare improvement.

What You Can Do

Advocate for evidence-based perch design standards in hen welfare certifications
Support research into optimal perch specifications for different housing systems
Choose egg certifications that include perch design specifications
Engage with producers about their perch design and keel bone monitoring data
Support welfare scoring schemes that include perch-related foot health assessment