Farm Animals

Broiler Environmental Complexity and Welfare

Providing environmental complexity including perches, platforms, and pecking objects in broiler housing improves welfare through opportunities for natural behaviour expression.

Key Facts

Broilers show strong motivation to perch, rest on elevated structures, and explore
Environmental complexity including perches and platforms increases activity levels
Litter provision for dustbathing is a highly motivated behaviour essential for welfare
Elevated structures reduce contact litter time, improving footpad welfare
Higher welfare broiler certification including RSPCA Assured requires specific enrichment provision

Welfare Considerations

Broiler environmental complexity welfare requires going beyond minimal legal requirements to provide genuine opportunities for natural behaviour. Perches, platforms, natural light, and litter quality all contribute to positive welfare. Certification schemes that specify environmental complexity requirements drive genuine welfare improvement.

What You Can Do

Choose higher welfare chicken from schemes like RSPCA Assured with enrichment requirements
Advocate for environmental complexity requirements in broiler welfare legislation
Support research into cost-effective broiler enrichment that improves welfare at scale