Keel bone fractures affect the majority of laying hens in commercial production. This widespread and largely unrecognised welfare problem deserves greater attention.
Keel bone fractures represent a largely hidden welfare crisis in cage-free laying hen production. The majority of hens in aviary systems have fractured keels, yet this welfare problem receives far less public attention than cage use. Affected hens show chronic pain through altered gait, reluctance to perch, and reduced activity. The metabolic demands of producing over 300 eggs per year deplete bone mineral reserves, reducing structural bone integrity throughout the skeleton. The welfare improvement from transitioning from cages to cage-free systems is real — but keel bone fractures represent a remaining welfare problem that cage-free labelling does not address. Breeding for improved keel bone strength and redesigning aviary systems to reduce impact injury are the primary solutions. This welfare problem must not be used as a justification for retaining cages, but it must be honestly acknowledged and addressed.