Keel bone fractures affect the majority of laying hens in commercial flocks, causing chronic pain throughout their productive lives — a largely hidden welfare crisis across the egg industry.
Keel bone fractures represent a serious welfare problem that complicates the straightforward assumption that cage-free systems are better for hens. While cage-free housing improves behavioral welfare — enabling perching, foraging, and dust bathing — the collision and landing injuries associated with aviaries produce high keel bone fracture rates with associated chronic pain. Addressing this requires system design improvements that reduce collision risk, genetic selection for stronger bone architecture, and nutritional support for bone health. The challenge is that current welfare improvements in one dimension have come at the cost of welfare in another. Research and industry attention to keel bone health is increasing, with some producers demonstrating significantly lower fracture rates through improved design and management.