Farm Animals

Poultry Welfare and Bone Health in Laying Hens

Bone health is a critical welfare issue in laying hens, with osteoporosis and keel fractures causing chronic pain across production systems.

Key Facts

Laying hens produce up to 300 eggs per year, depleting skeletal calcium reserves
Osteoporosis affects virtually all laying hens by end of lay in intensive systems
Perch provision allows exercise that strengthens bones and reduces fracture risk
Dietary calcium optimisation reduces osteoporosis severity but cannot eliminate it
Genetic selection for bone strength alongside egg production is an emerging welfare priority

Welfare Considerations

Bone disease in laying hens represents chronic, poorly-recognised suffering at enormous scale. Systemic change combining genetics, housing, and nutrition is needed to address this welfare crisis.

What You Can Do

Choose eggs from flocks with enhanced bone health management
Advocate for bone health as a key laying hen welfare indicator
Support research into genetic solutions to laying hen bone disease