Laying Hen Keel Bone Fractures | Animal Welfare Hub

Keel bone fractures affect the majority of laying hens in enriched cage and free-range systems and represent a significant and widespread welfare problem.

Key Facts

The keel bone is the prominent breastbone to which flight muscles attach — fractures occur from collisions, falls, and perch impacts
Studies find keel bone fractures in 50-80% of hens in enriched cage systems and up to 80% in some free-range flocks
Fractures cause chronic pain and restrict normal behaviours including perching, wing flapping, and movement
Keel bone fractures are associated with bone density loss driven by calcium demands of high egg production
Solutions include better perch design, reduced flock density, lighting management, and selective breeding

Welfare Considerations

Keel bone fractures are one of the most significant welfare failures in modern egg production systems. The near-universal prevalence in both cage-free and free-range systems means that even higher-welfare eggs may come from hens experiencing chronic fracture pain. This is a complex, systemic problem that requires industry-wide investment in breeding, housing design, and management solutions.

What You Can Do

Support egg producers and certification bodies actively investing in keel bone fracture reduction programs
Advocate for keel bone fracture monitoring and reporting to be included in welfare auditing schemes
Reduce egg consumption or shift toward small-scale producers with documented low fracture rates
Support research into breeding lines with improved bone strength suitable for cage-free production systems