Keel bone fractures affect the majority of laying hens and cause chronic pain. Evidence-based housing design and management can substantially reduce this endemic welfare problem.
Keel bone fractures represent one of the most widespread and least-addressed welfare problems in commercial egg production. The prevalence in cage-free systems challenges the assumption that removing cages automatically improves welfare. Housing design details including perch design, stocking density and vertical space significantly affect fracture rates. Progress requires combining housing improvements with genetic selection and management protocols that reduce fracture risk.