In recent years, welfare certification companies have encouraged the use of scatter feeding
as enrichment material, though there is little scientific evidence to support a scatter feeding program.
This study aimed to understand the impact of scatter feeding on the foraging behavior of broilers. One
hundred eighty Ross 308 chicks were allocated into six treatment groups (six replicates/treatment).
Broilers were scatter fed dried mealworms, whole wheat, shredded cabbage, alfalfa pellets, wood
shavings, or no scatter feeding, respectively. Enrichment was provided on the first three days of each
week. Total foraging, active foraging, and feeding were observed for one-hour periods immediately
after scattering, 2 h later, and 6 h later. In all groups, broilers increased both total (p = 0.001) and
active (p = 0.001) foraging, though this was most pronounced in the dried mealworm group. Across
all groups, active foraging decreased with age (p = 0.001). The mealworm group also showed a
corresponding decrease in feeding during hour one compared to the later hours (p = 0.001). These
results did not provide evidence that scatter feeding encourages foraging behavior, except for a
short-term effect of a high value feed item. This finding suggests that the item scattered and the
delivery method should be studied further.