Keel bone fractures affect up to 80% of commercial laying hens in some flocks and represent one of the most prevalent and painful welfare problems in modern egg production systems.
Keel bone fractures represent a major unresolved welfare challenge in egg production, particularly ironic because they are more prevalent in cage-free systems intended to give hens more freedom. The pain from fractures is chronic, lasting weeks to months, and affects feeding, movement, and social behaviour. Solutions are multifactorial: better perch design to prevent collision landings, selective breeding for stronger bones, improved calcium nutrition, and housing layouts that reduce flight distances. Welfare auditing programmes are beginning to include keel bone palpation as a standard metric.