The debate between enriched cage and barn systems for laying hens centres on competing welfare benefits, with no single system superior on all welfare measures.
Enriched cages restrict movement and social choice but reduce injurious pecking, keel bone fractures from falls, and parasite burden. Barn systems allow dust bathing, perching and foraging but expose hens to higher rates of feather pecking and respiratory disease. Neither system fully addresses welfare priorities simultaneously. Moving toward furnished, larger colony systems with better enrichment and outdoor access offers the best balance across welfare indicators.