Dust bathing is one of the most strongly motivated behaviors in chickens, yet battery cages and barren systems deny hens this essential activity, causing lasting frustration.
The drive to dust bathe is so strong in hens that they perform the motions even on bare wire — a clear sign of behavioral frustration. This deprivation is a significant welfare cost of intensive egg production. Providing loose litter or substrate areas meets this need and reduces stereotypic behaviors. Consumer demand for enriched and free-range systems drives improvement in this area.