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Jesus Malverde

(10,274 posts)
Thu Jan 1, 2015, 11:58 PM Jan 2015

More 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

28 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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More room for chickens likely means costlier eggs (Original Post) Jesus Malverde Jan 2015 OP
I already buy organic, cage free, roody Jan 2015 #1
I've only purchased cage free eggs for years now. tammywammy Jan 2015 #2
Most "cage free" situations are only marginal improvements on battery cages, if that. Codeine Jan 2015 #26
Not a problem for us, GGJohn Jan 2015 #3
Me too. cwydro Jan 2015 #28
Well, if it isn't worth his while to sell to CA, then don't Starry Messenger Jan 2015 #4
Been buying cage free for years. kiva Jan 2015 #5
Shenanigans!!!! Xolodno Jan 2015 #6
Threats & they better not complain about their own health insurance company decisions re :procedures lunasun Jan 2015 #14
good. more people will get their own chickens. mopinko Jan 2015 #7
We cannot own farm animals ChazII Jan 2015 #9
I read about one farmer who has already started to comply. CaliforniaPeggy Jan 2015 #8
Great article... Jesus Malverde Jan 2015 #11
You're very welcome! CaliforniaPeggy Jan 2015 #12
Boo fricken hoo. Luminous Animal Jan 2015 #10
Good! silverweb Jan 2015 #13
Well, good! Quantess Jan 2015 #15
Eggs are the cheapest food available, double the price and treat chickens humanely. marble falls Jan 2015 #16
they're up substantially here madville Jan 2015 #17
A dozen eggs TlalocW Jan 2015 #18
Our chickens last season GreatGazoo Jan 2015 #19
You're missing urban free range eggs Recursion Jan 2015 #20
Agreed, chickens are pretty awesome. Jesus Malverde Jan 2015 #21
My neighbor loves to hear our rooster. dixiegrrrrl Jan 2015 #22
There is nothing like a tasty home raised egg Jesus Malverde Jan 2015 #23
Aren't all you folks who only buy cage free and free range eggs lucky. Trillo Jan 2015 #24
Thanks Obama Capt. Obvious Jan 2015 #25
I buy my eggs from my neighbor. He allows his chickens to free range and my god B Calm Jan 2015 #27

tammywammy

(26,582 posts)
2. I've only purchased cage free eggs for years now.
Fri Jan 2, 2015, 12:05 AM
Jan 2015

I would rather spend a little more and know the animals are treated better.

 

Codeine

(25,586 posts)
26. Most "cage free" situations are only marginal improvements on battery cages, if that.
Fri Jan 2, 2015, 09:02 AM
Jan 2015

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.

Starry Messenger

(32,342 posts)
4. Well, if it isn't worth his while to sell to CA, then don't
Fri Jan 2, 2015, 12:09 AM
Jan 2015

Out of state egg sellers who are cage free are selling to CA to meet demand.

kiva

(4,373 posts)
5. Been buying cage free for years.
Fri Jan 2, 2015, 12:29 AM
Jan 2015

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)
6. Shenanigans!!!!
Fri Jan 2, 2015, 01:10 AM
Jan 2015

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)
14. Threats & they better not complain about their own health insurance company decisions re :procedures
Fri Jan 2, 2015, 01:46 AM
Jan 2015

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)
7. good. more people will get their own chickens.
Fri Jan 2, 2015, 01:14 AM
Jan 2015

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)
9. We cannot own farm animals
Fri Jan 2, 2015, 01:20 AM
Jan 2015

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)
8. I read about one farmer who has already started to comply.
Fri Jan 2, 2015, 01:17 AM
Jan 2015

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)
11. Great article...
Fri Jan 2, 2015, 01:37 AM
Jan 2015
"I don't know if the chickens know any better, but it's made farming fun again," Hilliker said of the new barn. "It's a new challenge, and I feel like it has reinvigorated me."


Thanks!

TlalocW

(15,359 posts)
18. A dozen eggs
Fri Jan 2, 2015, 03:20 AM
Jan 2015

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)
19. Our chickens last season
Fri Jan 2, 2015, 06:57 AM
Jan 2015

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)
20. You're missing urban free range eggs
Fri Jan 2, 2015, 07:04 AM
Jan 2015

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)
21. Agreed, chickens are pretty awesome.
Fri Jan 2, 2015, 07:19 AM
Jan 2015

American cities have made progress in allowing them, lots of hate for roosters.

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)
22. My neighbor loves to hear our rooster.
Fri Jan 2, 2015, 07:55 AM
Jan 2015

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.

Trillo

(9,154 posts)
24. Aren't all you folks who only buy cage free and free range eggs lucky.
Fri Jan 2, 2015, 08:54 AM
Jan 2015

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.

 

B Calm

(28,762 posts)
27. I buy my eggs from my neighbor. He allows his chickens to free range and my god
Fri Jan 2, 2015, 09:03 AM
Jan 2015

you wouldn't believe the flavor, it is so delicious!

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