Enriched colony cages were introduced as a compromise between battery cages and cage-free systems, but research shows they provide only marginal welfare improvements for laying hens.
Enriched cages represent a significant improvement over battery cages, but fall far short of cage-free welfare outcomes. The perch, nest box, and scratch area provided are shared among too many birds to allow meaningful behavioral expression. Dust bathing — a behavior hens are highly motivated to perform — is impossible in enriched cages. Only cage-free, free-range, and pasture systems allow hens to express a reasonable behavioral repertoire.