Farmed Animals

Laying Hen Bone Health and Welfare

Osteoporosis and keel bone fractures are among the most significant and widespread welfare problems in egg production.

Key Facts

Over 50 percent of free-range and barn hens have keel bone fractures at the end of lay
Cage systems have higher rates of osteoporosis but lower rates of keel fractures than cage-free systems
Keel fractures cause chronic pain that affects movement, perching, and overall welfare
Selective breeding for lower keel fracture risk is technically feasible but commercially underutilised
Perch design, drop distances, and flock management all affect keel fracture rates

Welfare Considerations

Keel bone fractures represent a welfare crisis affecting the majority of laying hens in cage-free systems, causing chronic pain throughout the laying period. This is not an argument for cage systems, which have their own severe welfare problems, but a call for systemic improvement through better breeding, housing design, and management across all laying systems.

What You Can Do

Support research into keel bone fracture prevention across laying systems
Choose eggs from producers who include keel bone health in their welfare monitoring
Advocate for keel bone health as a mandatory welfare monitoring requirement
Support breeding programmes that select for structural health alongside production
Engage with welfare organisations working on this underrecognised welfare problem