Keel bone fractures are the most prevalent welfare problem in laying hens across all housing systems, causing chronic pain in millions of birds.
Keel bone fractures represent a welfare crisis hidden behind the apparent success of cage-free transitions. When the industry moved from battery cages to enriched colonies and aviary systems, the problem of keel bone fractures became more prevalent, not less — because hens now have height to fall from. The pain of a fractured keel bone is chronic and often untreated, and the bird must continue to move, eat, and lay eggs through the discomfort. Addressing this problem requires a multidisciplinary approach: breeding for stronger bones, rearing environments that promote exercise and bone density, enclosure designs that reduce collision and fall risk, and welfare assessment protocols that include keel palpation as standard. This problem should be front and center in welfare certification reforms.