Keel bone fractures affect the majority of laying hens in commercial systems and cause chronic pain. This largely unrecognised welfare crisis affects hundreds of millions of birds globally.
Keel bone fractures represent one of the most significant unresolved welfare problems in commercial egg production. The scale of the problem — affecting the majority of hens in most production systems — makes it a priority welfare issue by any measure. The paradox is that the move away from battery cages, while beneficial in many respects, has increased fracture rates in some systems because hens can collide with perches and fall from heights. This does not mean battery cages are preferable — they cause their own severe welfare harms — but it highlights the need for housing design that reduces collision and fall risk alongside enrichment provision. Breeding for stronger bones, perch design modification, and litter management that cushions landings are all evidence-based approaches to reducing fracture prevalence.