Litter, perches and nests: three essential resources

In brief. Litter, perches and nests are not decorative extras. They support different behaviours: scratching and dustbathing, resting above the floor, and laying in a quiet place. Their value depends on accessibility, cleanliness and what the hens actually do with them.

Keep litter active, dry and friable

Useful litter remains dry, loose and workable by the birds. EFSA recommends friable litter, topped up with fresh material and enrichment that supports comfort, exploration and foraging. A wet or capped surface loses that function and can harm air quality and foot condition.

Material is selected for availability, absorbency, dust, contamination risk and disposal route. It is stored away from moisture, wild birds and rodents. Assessment goes beyond looking from the doorway: staff handle material in several locations, especially below drinkers, around exits and in heavily used areas.

Fix the reason for wet patches

Covering a leak with dry litter hides the fault. A damp area leads to a check of water pressure, drinker height, ventilation, condensation, stocking and rain entry. Contaminated material is removed under the biosecurity procedure and the source is corrected. Excessive dust is also undesirable and may reflect overly fine material or a house that is too dry.

Perches organise rest

Hens are strongly motivated to perch, particularly at night. Reachable elevated structures support rest and allow birds to move away from each other. EFSA recommends platforms and/or perches that allow simultaneous resting. The design avoids sharp edges, foot traps and distances that make collision or poor landings more likely.

A calculated length is not enough. Staff observe where hens sleep, whether some remain on the floor, whether access is blocked and whether droppings contaminate birds or resources below. UK regulations and guidance provide useful dimensions for their own jurisdiction, but a Moroccan project must follow the rules and system that apply locally.

Make nests calm, visible to hens and easy to manage

Before laying, a hen searches for a site. A nest should be easy to locate, dimmer than the main activity area, comfortable and protected from disturbance. Too few usable nests or awkward access can cause queues and floor eggs. The floor material, slope where relevant, ventilation and cleaning all influence use.

Floor eggs are recorded and recurring locations are mapped. Instead of repeatedly moving hens, the team looks for a cause: nests that are too bright, access difficulty, pullet learning, competition or opening time. Nests are checked during rounds and eggs are collected calmly.

All three resources interact

A perch over a nest can soil it. A poorly placed drinker wets litter. Flat lighting can make the nest unattractive. Layout must therefore be read as a system: hen circulation, staff access, cleaning, egg collection and airflow. A change is first tested on a limited area where safe, then assessed through behaviour, injuries, floor eggs and litter condition.

Build repeatable indicators

Records can include the proportion of friable litter, wet patches, perch occupancy at dusk, floor eggs, nests avoided, and foot or feather condition. Observation is repeated at comparable times and places. After a change, staff check that improving one result has not damaged another—for example, fewer floor eggs but more competition at nests.

A practical resource audit

The audit begins with a scaled plan showing nests, perches, platforms, drinkers, feeders and litter areas. Staff then walk the same route at laying time and near dusk. They mark resources that exist but cannot be reached, places where hens queue, and surfaces contaminated from above. Photographs can support maintenance records, but they should be dated and used as evidence rather than promotional scenery.

Perches are checked for stability, sharp edges, gaps that trap claws and landing space. Nests are reviewed for light, draughts, cleanliness and entry height. Litter is sampled in a grid rather than only where it looks good. Repairs are prioritised by injury or access risk. After completion, the same measures are repeated to confirm that hens use the change.

Manage transitions for pullets

Young birds need an environment that helps them learn the resources they will encounter later. Abrupt changes in perch design, drinker type or layout can create confusion. The rearing and laying systems should be considered together, with close observation after transfer and qualified advice for any adjustment.

What standards do not prove about Mamati

Morocco’s 2024 specification for the recognised “Eggs from free-range hens” label includes conditions for housing, range and perches. Quoting that document does not allow Mamati to claim the label without official recognition. This guide certifies no installation; it explains questions to review with a veterinarian and designer.