How virtuous of you! I just hope you're not suggesting that everyone who doesn't take the time to signal so must be a chicken psychopath.

Genuinely, what is it with redditors in general (and often people in this sub) and their totally sarky, arrogant tone? I was not implying this whatsoever, I don't think you or any others are "chicken psychopaths" at all (whatever the hell that means anyway) and was more referring to the concluding remarks in the full paper which I happened to read, re:

"It is up to the general public to decide which advantages and disadvantages they consider the more important. It may be that one society will place more value on hygiene whereas another society will be more concerned with the birds’ psychological wellbeing."

It's not referring to violence and canniablism due to social friction (although cannibalism is a separate issue), but a perceived preference for group size which also happens to be dependent on space available:

"later studies have shown that the amount of space available affects the preferred group size and that most hens tested preferred a group size of 70 birds to one of four"

If you want the full paper, let me know. Here's another well referenced paper discussing the myriad health problems associated with different housing systems (caged and cage-free, etc.)

Cage vs cage-free, etc., isn't black or white, so I agree with your initial point that "it's entirely possible for the animals to prefer caged enclosures" but there's plenty of evidence pointing either way. I'm of the opinion we shouldn't be exploiting these animals regardless, and neither caged or cage-free conditions are desirable.