Enriched colony cages were developed as a welfare improvement over battery cages, but evidence suggests they fall short of meeting hens behavioral needs adequately.
Enriched colony cages represent a genuine improvement over battery cages, providing space, perches, nest boxes, and litter for scratching. However, research shows that actual welfare outcomes fall short of the theoretical improvement — competition for resources, high stocking density, and limited space still prevent hens from expressing natural behaviors adequately. Consumer and retailer commitments to cage-free systems reflect growing recognition that enriched cages do not meet the welfare standard the public expects.