Eggs: Battery Cage vs. Cage-Free vs. Free-Range vs. Free Roam

Many industrial farmers keep hens in battery cages, where most hens have an area the size of a sheet of printer paper to spend their entire life in. The current regulations have no requirements for the size of the space that the chickens are confined to. In these systems, roosters are killed upon birth resulting in over 250 million deaths of new born roosters every year because they are of no use to the egg farms. Caged eggs can also cause many health problems, for example, many major studies have concluded that eggs from hens raised in cages have a much higher risk of salmonella infection, twice the odds of small farm, free-range eggs. In 2010, the largest recall in U.S. history happened due salmonella in battery cage operations. Industrial operations also greatly increase the amount of pollution that enters the environment and can cause fly infestations, strong odors, and other health problems.

There is another way that some industrial farmers keep their chickens called ¨Cage Free.¨ In cage free environments chickens are in flocks of more than one thousand hens, but are able to move around more freely, and are treated more humanely than those in battery cages. These chickens also have designated nesting areas. But, when most people see "Free Range" or "Cage Free" eggs at the grocery store, they think that hens get to roam free; sadly that is not the case. Egg carton labels are often deceiving, according to the USDA: "Cage Free" eggs are eggs "produced by hens housed in a building, room, or enclosed area that allows for unlimited access to food, water, and provides the freedom to roam within the area during the laying cycle". The USDA definition for "Free Range" eggs is: eggs "produced by hens housed in a building, room, or area that allows for unlimited access to food, water, and continuous access to the outdoors during their laying cycle. The outdoor area may be fenced in and/or covered with netting-like material." The only difference in the definition between "Cage Free" and "Free Range" is that "Free Range" chickens have access to the outdoors, even if that means that they have the same amount of space and are still fenced in.

Many small farms use a method called "Free Roam" which allows the chickens to roam wherever they wish. This makes the chicken much healthier because it is able to find insects and other nutrients in the ground. Other small farms use runs, which is a fenced in area that the chickens can roam in, but are given enough space to move where they wish. Eggs from "Free Roam" chickens make eggs that are more nutrients dense.

Five states have now banned the use of battery cages (California, Michigan, Ohio, Oregon and Washington) and California has even banned selling eggs that were produced by hens in battery cages. Many companies including Costco and Walmart have started to only sell cage free eggs, and Hellmann's Mayonnaise has vowed to make the 350 million eggs its uses every year Cage-Free eggs. By buying local, truly free-range eggs, you can help reduce these emissions of toxins into the environment, as well as support your local community. There are over 250 million hens in battery cages today and by buying local, free-range eggs, you can help to free these hens and millions of hens to come.

To find local Free Roam eggs look at your local Farmers Markets or your local CSA

To find out more about the ban of battery cages click here: The American Society for the prevention of cruelty to animals