Farm Animals

Keel Bone Fractures in Laying Hens

Keel bone fractures are among the most prevalent and painful welfare problems in commercial laying hens.

Key Facts

Keel bone fractures affect 50-80% of laying hens in cage-free and free-range systems
Fractures occur most commonly during perching, flying and collisions in aviary systems
Hens with fractures show reduced activity, altered gait and pain behaviour
Bone mineralisation, body weight and perch design are significant risk factors
Genetic selection for welfare-favourable bone density is an active research area

Welfare Considerations

The high prevalence of keel bone fractures means the majority of laying hens in cage-free systems experience painful injuries during their productive lives. This welfare problem has emerged as cage-free systems have expanded and represents a major unresolved challenge for egg production welfare. Perch design, lighting management and genetics all contribute to solutions.

What You Can Do

Support research into keel bone fracture prevention through organisations like the British Poultry Council
Choose eggs from farms monitoring and reporting keel bone fracture rates
Advocate for inclusion of keel bone scoring in farm welfare audits and certification
Learn about Keel Bone Damage from Compassion in World Farming welfare resources