Farm Animal Welfare

Laying Hen Bone Health: Osteoporosis and Fracture Prevention

Osteoporosis and bone fractures are endemic in commercial laying hens due to intensive egg production. This painful condition affects millions of birds and is a major welfare concern.

Key Facts

Up to 30% of caged laying hens have fractured bones at the end of lay
Structural osteoporosis develops as calcium is diverted to eggshell formation
Cage-free systems allow exercise but fracture rates can still be high
Perch use strengthens bones by stimulating bone remodelling
Bone health assessments at slaughter reveal welfare history of entire flocks
Genetic selection for high lay rates has worsened osteoporosis susceptibility

Welfare Considerations

Bone fractures in laying hens cause chronic pain that may go undetected for days or weeks. The scale of this welfare problem is enormous given the billions of hens kept globally. Access to perches and opportunities for wing-flapping exercise significantly improve bone density. Breed selection, nutrition and housing design all influence fracture risk and must be addressed together.

What You Can Do

Support cage-free and enriched colony systems with perches and exercise space
Choose eggs from welfare-certified producers with bone health programmes
Advocate for mandatory end-of-lay bone fracture monitoring and reporting
Support research into laying hen genetics that balances productivity and bone health