Farm Animal Welfare

Laying Hen Bone Health Osteoporosis Management

Managing osteoporosis and bone health in laying hens through nutrition, genetics, and housing to reduce fractures and pain.

Key Facts

Osteoporosis affects the majority of commercial laying hens due to calcium mobilisation for eggshell
Bone fractures occur in up to 50-80% of laying hens at the time of slaughter
Keel bone fractures cause chronic pain and affect behaviour and productivity
Enriched colony and free-range hens have lower keel fracture rates than caged hens
Genetic selection for keel bone strength is possible and underway in some breeding programmes

Welfare Considerations

Bone health is a major unresolved welfare problem in laying hen production. The chronic mobilisation of calcium for eggshell production depletes structural bone, leading to osteoporosis and a high prevalence of painful fractures. Nutrition, housing, and genetic solutions exist but have not been systematically implemented across the industry, leaving millions of hens experiencing chronic pain.

What You Can Do

Choose eggs from hens in systems with documented lower fracture rates
Support genetic research into keel bone strength in laying hens
Advocate for keel bone fracture prevalence to be included in welfare certification requirements