Farm Animals

Farmed Hen Keel Bone Assessment

Keel bone fractures are the most prevalent welfare problem in laying hens, and systematic assessment at slaughter can drive management changes that prevent further suffering.

Key Facts

Keel bone fractures affect 50-80% of laying hens in many free-range and enriched cage systems
Fractures cause chronic pain that affects feeding, perch use and social behaviour
Post-mortem assessment at slaughter allows flock-level welfare monitoring
Perch design, landing areas and calcium nutrition are all linked to fracture prevalence

Welfare Considerations

Hens with keel bone fractures carry chronic pain loads that reduce quality of life across the laying period, which may last 12-16 months. Studies using analgesic preference tests demonstrate that affected hens actively choose pain relief, confirming subjective pain experience. The high prevalence of keel bone fractures across production systems means that millions of laying hens currently experience preventable chronic pain.

What You Can Do

Support mandatory keel bone assessment at slaughter with results reported to producers
Advocate for keel bone fracture reduction targets in laying hen certification schemes
Choose eggs from producers who publish keel bone welfare data
Back research into perch design and management modifications that reduce fracture rates