General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMore room for chickens likely means costlier eggs
The new year is expected to bring rising chicken egg prices across the U.S. as California starts requiring farmers to house hens in cages with enough space to move around and stretch their wings.
The new standard backed by animal rights advocates has drawn ire nationwide because farmers in Iowa, Ohio and other states who sell eggs in California have to abide by the same requirements.
To comply, farmers have to put fewer hens into each cage or invest in revamped henhouses, passing along the expense to consumers shopping at grocery stores. California is the nation's largest consumer of eggs and imports about one-third of its supply.
Jim Dean, president and CEO of Centrum Valley Farms in Iowa and Ohio, said one of his buildings that holds 1.5 million hens is now about half full to meet California's standards, and another building may have to be completely overhauled.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/More-room-for-chickens-likely-means-costlier-eggs-5989042.php
roody
(10,849 posts)so I should be paying the same.
tammywammy
(26,582 posts)I would rather spend a little more and know the animals are treated better.
Codeine
(25,586 posts)It's a marketing ploy so upscale Americans can feel good about spending more money while in reality the chickens are still usually quite miserable.
GGJohn
(9,951 posts)we have a dozen hens and 2 roosters, eggs aren't a problem for us.
My ladies run free and provide us with yummy eggs!
Starry Messenger
(32,342 posts)Out of state egg sellers who are cage free are selling to CA to meet demand.
kiva
(4,373 posts)I think this is a very good idea and wish more states would follow suit.
Edited to add: California voters approved this in 2008 so suppliers have had over six years to make these changes.
Xolodno
(6,341 posts)Yes...the initial cost to expand cages will be high....and they will pass that cost over time. Which will raise the cost of eggs marginally in terms of volume. Spending an extra 25-50 cents per dozen will not break the bank.
If it was truly cost prohibitive...they wouldn't even bother selling to California. But they will sell, because if they don't...someone else will comply and devour their market share.
Typical BS tactics...pass this law and you get: Higher Taxes, Higher Costs, Less Access, etc. Much like the Papa John's CEO said....OMG! Pizza will cost an extra 25 cents to comply with Obamacare!!!!!
Or what they are really saying....son of a bitch! We were going to raise the cost by a buck! Now we will only get 75% of the extra profit we wanted.
lunasun
(21,646 posts)or benefits, because they should understand why it must be denied ! Surely they can not be part of the problem that stands in the way of profit
A man cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals."
--Immanuel Kant
"A righteous man has regard for the life of his beast."
--Proverbs 12:10
mopinko
(69,806 posts)and people who do it right will be able to get what they are worth.
i get $4/doz, and i subsidize that at about $1 for community pr. that is more than a lot of people are willing to pay.
most people do agree that they are better eggs, tho.
ChazII
(6,198 posts)like roosters, goats, chickens in my community. However, I would travel to those areas close to my house to purchase eggs and help a family earn extra income.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,308 posts)He said his chickens are behaving in ways he has never seen before. They are more playful with each other and he was surprised to see that.
I'll see if I can find a link.
Here's the link to the LA Times article:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-cage-free-eggs-20141229-story.html#page=1
Jesus Malverde
(10,274 posts)Thanks!
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,308 posts)I hoped that it would contribute something good to your post.
Luminous Animal
(27,310 posts)silverweb
(16,402 posts)[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]Maybe more people will try the newer vegan egg substitutes!
Quantess
(27,630 posts)Chickens endure horrible lives in most cases. They deserve a little extra space.
marble falls
(56,359 posts)madville
(7,397 posts)A dozen that cost $1.79 six months ago is $2.89 now.
TlalocW
(15,359 posts)Still costs less than a coffee at Starbucks, which I'm sure all the complainers have no problem paying for - every day.
I kind of agree with Mike Neson's riff, "Eggs are complicated... They should cost a hundred dollars each."
TlalocW
GreatGazoo
(3,937 posts)had their own two acres. It was a mixed flock for our first year. This year we are either going to have lots more chickens in that space or go to a couple hogs since we have so much excess produce:
Someone at the farm brought a 50 pound sack of peanuts and you could definitely taste a difference in the eggs. It was good until the peanuts sorted of turned in the heat then not so good. They ate a lot insects off the compost piles but mostly organic grain.
Around here eggs at farmers' markets or from farm stands are $4 to $6 per dozen. Duck eggs are $4 per half dozen. Super market eggs are $2 to $2.50/ dozen
Recursion
(56,582 posts)I buy eggs from a vendor whose hens run wild in the Mumbai streets picking through garbage and come back every night to their coop. They are 6 rupees per, or about 12 cents US.
There is absolutely no reason cities cannot provide themselves their own eggs through husbandry along these lines.
Jesus Malverde
(10,274 posts)American cities have made progress in allowing them, lots of hate for roosters.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)I was surprised that our lil town allows chickens, but we took advantage of it.
Sadly, not that many people are interested in our FREE eggs.
Sheesh.
Jesus Malverde
(10,274 posts)Their loss.
Trillo
(9,154 posts)You're willing to pay more, and have been paying more. I'm lucky to be able to afford any eggs.
America, such a study in deep contrasts.
Capt. Obvious
(9,002 posts)B Calm
(28,762 posts)you wouldn't believe the flavor, it is so delicious!