Keel bone fractures affect the majority of laying hens in non-cage systems and represent one of the most significant unresolved welfare problems in modern egg production.
Keel bone fractures represent a welfare crisis that is invisible to most consumers. The vast majority of free-range and barn eggs come from hens with at least one fractured keel bone, suffering pain that affects their normal movement, perching behaviour, and likely their subjective wellbeing throughout their laying lives. The irony is that the enriched environment designed to improve welfare (perches, nest boxes, multi-tier systems) also increases fracture risk if not designed carefully. Solving this problem requires a multi-pronged approach: breed change, perch design, nutrition, and management - none of which is yet standard across the industry.