The effect of a Freedom Food enrichment on the behaviour of broilers on commercial farms (2001)

Kells, A., Dawkins, M. S., Borja, M. C.

Abstract

The effect of an environmental enrichment - straw bales - on the behaviour of growing broiler chicks was investigated. ... The birds provided with bales perched on them and clustered around them. The most striking result, however, was that, even away from the bales, birds in the enriched houses were more active (showing more walking and running and less sitting) than birds in unenriched houses. ... There is, thus now quantitative evidence for the RSPCA's view that indoor chickens on farms can be kept active by [adequately] enriching their environment.