Abstract

Broiler chickens in intensive production systems are often kept in environments with low sensory input, which can negatively impact their welfare. This study investigated the effects of physical and social enrichments. We examined how these strategies influenced the chickens’ behavior, physiological responses, overall welfare, and growth parameters. Both types of enrichment improved their welfare, but social enrichment was particularly effective in encouraging foraging behavior and seemed to promote a more positive affective state. It is noteworthy that these welfare improvements maintained both growth and productivity, as no differences were observed in the productive parameters. These results suggest that incorporating social interactions into poultry farming practices can enhance animal welfare and maintain the production efficiency, offering a practical approach to improving the conditions in intensive farming systems.