Laying Hen Perch Use and Bone Health

Perch access in laying hen systems improves bone strength and reduces keel fractures when perch design accounts for safe jumping and landing.

Key Facts

Laying hens in aviary systems with appropriately designed perches show better bone density than cage-free floor systems
Perch height, width, and material significantly affect bone stress during landing and jumping
Hens using perches regularly show lower rates of keel bone fractures in some but not all studies
Graduated perch heights reduce fall distance and improve uptake among inexperienced birds
Perch use also improves social welfare by allowing subordinate birds to escape aggression from dominant hens

Welfare Considerations

Perch design is a welfare detail with significant consequences. Well-designed perch systems improve bone health, provide social refuges, and allow expression of natural roosting behavior. Poorly designed perches create injury risks from failed landings. The welfare benefit of perches depends critically on getting the design right - not merely providing them as a regulatory checkbox.

What You Can Do

Support laying hen welfare standards requiring appropriately designed and positioned perches
Choose egg certification schemes that audit perch design quality beyond mere provision
Advocate for research into optimal perch design parameters for bone health and welfare
Ask egg retailers about the perch specifications required from their laying hen suppliers