Keel bone fractures affect the majority of laying hens in some production systems. This painful, prevalent condition is one of the most significant welfare issues in egg production.
Keel bone fractures represent a major unresolved welfare problem in commercial egg production. As the industry moved from battery cages (with their own welfare problems) to cage-free and aviary systems, the fracture rate increased due to the physical demands of navigating complex environments. The irony is that welfare-motivated cage-free transitions have created a new, widespread welfare problem. Addressing keel bone fractures requires a combination of genetic improvement, housing design changes, management adjustments, and possibly pain management protocols.