Eggs

Photo Source: Babi_Santander

America’s egg farmers produce eggs from multiple production systems.  When it comes to eggs consumers have many choices and it can be confusing for some. Here is a brief explanation of the different labels found on eggs.

Conventional cage eggs- are produced from hens living in communal cage systems.  While the size of the cage will vary by bird size, the long and short of this process is that hens spend their entire lives caged.  The hens are provided food and their eggs are collected by an automatic egg collection system.  This is factory farming at its finest.

Cage free eggs- are laid by hens living on indoor floor operations sometimes called free-roaming hens.  The shelters that protect the hens are cage free and while still being fed a majority of their diet, are allowed to create their own nests and perch indoors.

Free-range eggs- are produced by hens raised outdoors or that have open access to the outdoors from shelter.  These hens may forage outdoors for wild plants and insects and are sometimes referred to as pasture-fed hens.

Organic eggs- are produced according to national USDA Organic standards.  Hens are fed rations having ingredients that were grown without conventional pesticides, fungicides, herbicides or commercial fertilizers.  All organic systems are cage free.