Farm Animals

Poultry Keel Bone Fractures - Management Advances

Research into keel bone fracture prevention is yielding practical improvements in perch design, lighting and genetics that reduce this pervasive welfare problem.

Key Facts

Keel bone fractures cause chronic pain detectable through reduced activity and altered posture
Padded perch covers reduce impact forces during landing and have shown efficacy in reducing fractures
Lower light intensity during the pullet rearing period improves bone mineralisation before cage-free housing
Gentle laying breed lines show 15-30% lower fracture rates than high-production counterparts
Real-time X-ray assessment of live birds is enabling research-to-practice translation

Welfare Considerations

Keel bone fractures affect the majority of cage-free hens and cause persistent pain. A combination of rearing management, perch design and genetic selection offers the best path to meaningful reduction.

What You Can Do

Support egg producers participating in keel bone fracture reduction research programmes
Advocate for keel bone fracture prevalence reporting as a mandatory welfare metric
Choose eggs from farms committed to monitoring and reducing keel bone fracture rates