Farm Animal Welfare

Poultry Keel Bone Fracture Prevention in Laying Hens

Keel bone fractures affect the majority of laying hens in most housing systems and cause chronic pain that significantly compromises welfare.

Key Facts

Keel bone fractures affect 50-80% of laying hens in commercial systems
Many fractures occur during the laying period from repeated impacts
Cage-free and aviary systems show high fracture rates despite enrichment
Genetic selection for bone strength is showing promising results
Pain from fractures reduces activity, feeding, and social behaviour

Welfare Considerations

Keel bone fractures represent one of the most widespread and underrecognised welfare problems in egg production. The chronic pain experienced by affected birds affects their behaviour and quality of life for weeks to months. Addressing this requires breeding, housing design, and management solutions working in combination.

What You Can Do

Support research into keel bone fracture prevention
Choose eggs from producers engaged in bone health improvement programmes
Advocate for keel bone fracture to be included in welfare audits