Farm Animals

Farmed Broiler Chicken Dustbathing Welfare

Dustbathing is a highly motivated behaviour in chickens that commercial systems frequently fail to adequately provide for.

Key Facts

Dustbathing serves feather maintenance and social functions in chickens
Hens on litter attempt dustbathing in litter but substrate quality affects behaviour quality
Poor litter prevents full expression of the behaviour causing vacuum dustbathing attempts
Access to dry, friable substrate significantly improves dustbathing behaviour quality
Dustbathing is a welfare indicator measured in some assessment systems

Welfare Considerations

Chickens deprived of appropriate substrate for dustbathing perform vacuum dustbathing - attempting the behaviour without substrate - indicating significant frustration of a highly motivated behaviour. Adequate litter depth and quality is a welfare requirement. Monitoring litter condition is both a welfare and disease prevention measure.

What You Can Do

Support broiler welfare standards requiring adequate litter depth and quality
Advocate for litter management standards in welfare certification
Choose chicken products from farms with documented litter quality monitoring