Farm Animal Welfare

Poultry Welfare and Perch Height Safety

Perch height in cage-free systems affects keel bone injury risk. Evidence shows that appropriate perch heights and gradients significantly reduce injury rates.

Key Facts

Falls from perches are a major cause of keel bone fractures in laying hens
Perch height above 60cm increases fall injury risk in floor systems
Stepped perch systems allowing gradual ascent and descent reduce fall injury
Perch gradient and landing zone design affect injury risk
Lighting transition management reduces panic-driven perch collisions

Welfare Considerations

Perch height management is a tractable welfare intervention. Simple modifications to perch systems and their management can substantially reduce one of the leading welfare problems in cage-free laying hen production.

What You Can Do

Support welfare certification with perch design and height requirements
Advocate for evidence-based perch standards in cage-free system regulations
Learn about keel bone welfare as a priority issue in laying hen production
Choose eggs from producers with verified keel bone prevention management