Keel bone fractures affect the majority of laying hens across all production systems, causing chronic pain and significantly impairing welfare, yet remain largely invisible to consumers and poorly addressed by industry.
Keel bone fractures represent one of the most prevalent and under-addressed welfare problems in commercial egg production. The high prevalence across all production systems including free-range and organic means that most eggs - regardless of labeling - come from hens experiencing chronic pain. The industry and regulators have been slow to act despite decades of scientific documentation. Solutions include better perch design, gentler beak trimming, and selective breeding for stronger bone density, but adoption remains limited.