Farm

Laying Hen Perch Use and Design for Bone Health

Access to perches is critical for laying hen bone health, with perch design affecting both the welfare benefit and the risk of keel bone fractures.

Key Facts

Perch use reduces bone fragility by loading bones during roosting
Keel bone fractures affect over 50% of laying hens in many commercial systems
Perch height, diameter, and surface texture significantly affect fracture risk during mounting
Round-section perches of 3-4 cm diameter are associated with lower injury rates

Welfare Considerations

Poorly designed perches can cause or worsen keel bone fractures even while providing the benefit of bone loading. Welfare-conscious perch design should be mandatory in all systems that provide perches. Welfare standards should specify perch design as well as availability.

What You Can Do

Advocate for evidence-based perch design standards in laying hen welfare codes
Support research on perch design optimisation for bone health and fracture reduction
Choose eggs from producers that demonstrate evidence-based perch provision