The pipe conveyor system can also be used to offer mixtures of litter material and wheat to keep the animals occupied. Depending on the material offered, this not only encourages foraging behaviour in the form of pecking and scratching, but also dust bathing.⁶

However, from a hygiene perspective, the consumption of cereal grains from the litter poses a certain risk to animal health. In terms of animal hygiene, it is therefore preferable to offer pure litter material via appropriate conveyor systems. In addition, compared to the pecking blocks and pellets, the enrichment material is not continuously available to the animals in the conveyor systems and grain spreaders listed here. 

Hay and alfalfa, which are increasingly offered in nets or metal baskets in laying hen husbandry, are mainly used in organic broiler chicken husbandry, but are also recommended for conventional husbandry. When using hay, however, it should be noted that, especially when offering long-cut hay, there is a risk of crop blockages due to the formation of crop worms.

There is little experience with the use of succulent feed in the form of carrots, apples and potatoes, for example, as is offered to laying hens, in broilers. It is therefore not known how excessive intake would affect the performance of the animals. In principle, however, succulent feed carries the risk that its shelf life is limited and that the material spoils quickly under unfavourable environmental conditions.¹

In general, hygiene aspects should always be taken into account when offering organic enrichment material. During storage, it is important to ensure that contact with harmful rodents or other vectors that could introduce pathogens is prevented. Due to the manufacturing process, straw pellets, thermally treated alfalfa bales or briquettes and pick stones have hygiene advantages over straw and hay.

The Animal Welfare Initiative requires that broiler chickens be provided with enrichment material on a floor area of 150 m², which corresponds to 2500 - 3000 animals / enrichment material. Other label programmes require that animals be provided with straw bales as well as pick stones. One pick stone is required for every 1000 broiler chickens.

Further technical information on the subject of elevated levels

The term "comfort behaviour" encompasses various behaviours in chickens: in addition to stretching their legs and wings and flapping their wings, body and plumage care are also particularly important aspects of comfort behaviour. The animals keep their plumage clean and functional by preening their feathers and dust bathing. Comfort behaviour is particularly noticeable in chickens during rest periods when the animals are³ undisturbed.

Dust bathing begins with pecking at the litter, followed by powdering the plumage by shaking the wings and body in a sitting position. In addition, the head and neck are rubbed in the litter. This behaviour is repeated several times with intermittent rest periods until the animal finally stands up and shakes itself.³ Dust bathing behaviour is observed from the first week of life, albeit initially incomplete. The behaviour is observed in both laying hens and broilers, although the dust bathing sequences are significantly shorter in broilers than in laying hens.³

In order for the animals to be able to spread the litter over their bodies when dust bathing, the litter must be loose and dry. This is a basic requirement for the animals to dust bathe in the litter.  

In organic animal husbandry, outdoor areas often offer the animals an additional opportunity for dust bathing. Nevertheless, the associations now require that dust bathing facilities be provided from the first week of life.

Access to outdoor climate areas also represents a form of enrichment, as it provides additional variety for the broilers.

Initial studies on the provision of covered outdoor climate areas have shown that these are accepted by both extensive and conventional genetics.^{14, 17} The animals are usually only given access to the outdoor climate area at the beginning of their fourth week of life.^{5, 14} The reason for this is that the chicks still have a high need for warmth in the first few weeks. Sufficiently high temperatures can only be achieved inside the house.

Behavioural observations have shown that broilers are generally more active in the outdoor climate area than inside the barn.^{14, 18} The use of outdoor climate areas also appears to depend on the outdoor climate, with these areas tending to be more readily accepted when outdoor temperatures are warmer.^{14, 18}

Outdoor climate areas are attractive to broilers and are accepted accordingly. With regard to animal hygiene, the risk of introducing pathogens such as avian influenza and salmonella must be taken into account.

The breeding of specialised lines for egg and meat production has led to significant differences in the expression of various behaviours in broilers and laying hens. This is due in part to physical differences, but also to the fact that laying hens live significantly longer than broilers, which are slaughtered as young birds. Previous experience with laying hen husbandry cannot therefore be transferred 1:1 to broilers. Broilers are generally less active than ^laying hens. Slow-growing broilers are comparatively more⁴ active.

Nevertheless, it has been shown that enrichment measures such as raised perches, enrichment materials or dust baths are also accepted by broilers. However, there are differences between the various genetics. Structural elements are more readily accepted¹⁹ by extensive genetics than by conventional genetics.

Overall, the various enrichment measures help the animals to engage in species-specific behaviour. They can therefore be considered positive from an animal welfare perspective. However, providing enrichment materials and structural elements also entails significant additional costs for the farmer. At present, farmers can mainly pass these additional costs on to consumers by participating in label programmes.