Farm Animals

Poultry Bone Health: Osteoporosis in Laying Hens

Osteoporosis and bone fractures are major welfare concerns in laying hens, affecting mobility, causing pain, and increasing end-of-lay mortality.

Key Facts

Structural osteoporosis develops in laying hens as calcium is mobilised from cortical bone for eggshell formation
Bone fracture rates at depopulation are over 25% in many conventional cage systems
Aviary systems with perches improve bone strength through physical activity and load-bearing
Genetic selection for improved bone density is under commercial development

Welfare Considerations

Bone health is a fundamental welfare issue for laying hens that is closely linked to production demands and housing system. Hens bred for extreme egg production pay a bone health cost that manifests as painful fractures throughout their laying life. Addressing this requires both genetic and housing system reform.

What You Can Do

Choose eggs from hens housed in systems that promote bone strength through movement
Support research into genetic selection for improved laying hen bone health
Advocate for bone fracture prevalence to be a standard welfare audit metric at depopulation