https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/ams_3725.pdf

Negotiated wholesale prices for graded loose eggs reversed and moved higher this week as concerns over continued outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have infused caution into the marketplace. Loose egg demand from the retail sector continues moderate to good but is in a full range in otherwise. Offerings are very light on very light to moderate supplies. Trading is active for available offerings. The volume of trailer load loose egg sales this week decreased 20% with 62% for out-front business. Prices for national trading of trucklot quantities of graded, loose, White Large shell eggs increased $1.26 to $5.88 per dozen with a higher undertone. Wholesale prices for formula trading of cartoned shell eggs continue to rise on moderate to good demand from retailers for very light offerings and very light to moderate supplies. Trading is active for the limited offerings. The wholesale price on the New York market for Large cartoned shell eggs delivered to retailers rose $0.47 to $6.72 per dozen with a higher undertone. In the major Midwest production region, the wholesale price for Large, white, shell eggs delivered to warehouses increased $0.15 to $6.06 per dozen with a firm undertone while prices paid to producers for Large cartoned shell eggs increased $0.43 to $6.30 per dozen. The California benchmark for Large shell eggs was unchanged at $8.97 per dozen with a steady undertone. Delivered prices on the California-compliant wholesale loose egg market increased $0.72 to $8.76 per dozen with a firm undertone.

 

In Colorado, we had an additional, and completely artificial, reason for egg prices to soar. The State passed a law that, effective the first of this year, stores cannot sell anything by cage-free eggs, which only accounted for about 40% of the supply in the state. So, if the store has any eggs at all, extra large eggs shot to over $10/dozen. They've since pulled back some, but still significantly higher than they were. It's just one of a slew of laws that the state has enacted that is driving costs for lots of things skyward.

 

Welcome to cage-free. Oregon has the same cage-free eggs law but there is:
Exemptions are also granted for small commercial farms producing eggs with fewer than 3,000 hens.

There are some local farms with cheaper supply near here from the 'natural' stores but the egg shelves are usually empty after a day from restock.

 

We had a flock of chickens and guinea hens up until a few years ago when the feed prices made store bought cheaper. But now... Until they get Avian Flu under control we will continue to see high egg prices. I can remember selling eggs @ $1/doz. and at the end they were up to $3/doz.

 

In Colorado, we had an additional, and completely artificial, reason for egg prices to soar. The State passed a law that, effective the first of this year, stores cannot sell anything by cage-free eggs, which only accounted for about 40% of the supply in the state. So, if the store has any eggs at all, extra large eggs shot to over $10/dozen. They've since pulled back some, but still significantly higher than they were. It's just one of a slew of laws that the state has enacted that is driving costs for lots of things skyward.

How is this an artificial reason? Your argument is essentially the marginal liberation of these animals is going to cost you money and that's unacceptable.

I can't help but think this is what was going through the slavers heads when slavery was abolished. The situation is a bit different but the logic is the same.

In this case, apparently 60% of the "supply" were / are enslaved practically by definition. Abolishing this and related laws seems perfectly reasonable to me and I'm a right leaning conservative!

 

Next, free-range shrimp.

 

How is this an artificial reason? Your argument is essentially the marginal liberation of these animals is going to cost you money and that's unacceptable.

I can't help but think this is what was going through the slavers heads when slavery was abolished. The situation is a bit different but the logic is the same.

In this case, apparently 60% of the "supply" were / are enslaved practically by definition. Abolishing this and related laws seems perfectly reasonable to me and I'm a right leaning conservative!

Total nonsense, not worthy of a reasoned response to such a troll.

To equate human slavery with egg production from chickens in pens is a hell of lot more than a bit different. You can mistreat animals but the human suffering under slavery is a totally different universe of hurt both physical and mental.

 

How is this an artificial reason? Your argument is essentially the marginal liberation of these animals is going to cost you money and that's unacceptable.

I can't help but think this is what was going through the slavers heads when slavery was abolished. The situation is a bit different but the logic is the same.

In this case, apparently 60% of the "supply" were / are enslaved practically by definition. Abolishing this and related laws seems perfectly reasonable to me and I'm a right leaning conservative!

Those chickens won't even remember being slaves when they are lying battered and deep fried on my plate.

 

I'm sure the coons, possums, weasels, skunks, fox, hounds, and hawks are still celebrating the "Free Range" decision and laughing their asses off...

 

I'm sure the coons, possums, weasels, skunks, fox, hounds, and hawks are still celebrating the "Free Range" decision and laughing their asses off...

We only penned the chickens that were being fattened for eating and the rest lived the life of a 'Secret Agent Man' on the range, evading those 'enemies.
The penned (keeps the chickens in and predators out) ones seemed mighty happy until that hook caught a foot.

 

Total nonsense, not worthy of a reasoned response to such a troll.

To equate human slavery with egg production from chickens in pens is a hell of lot more than a bit different. You can mistreat animals but the human suffering under slavery is a totally different universe of hurt both physical and mental.

I tend think in evolutionary terms. Humans have enslaved just about every creature we can get our hands on. If it's not for food or tools, then it's been for entertainment.

When it comes to making you work for free (under threat), that isn't really different than making a mule plow a field. Obviously in both cases the reason is because I don't want to do it myself.

But to your point, acquiring eggs are a lot different than making a human work or do terrible things.

What's not different is the hens are rendering a service they otherwise wouldn't be.

I worked in a slaughter house for a short time so I'm not saying all the methods are cruel and unnecessary, but most are.

I also met a lot of good hearted farmers that care for their animals but that's really only because it's in the farmers best interest to do so (their livelihood and health of consumers).

Going a step further, I think most cases of human hunting and foraging can be viewed as parasitic. In many cases it's symbiotic but not necessarily 50/50. Acquiring non human milk is a very strange example.

Putting this all together looks like slavery to me. It takes many forms and has degrees of severity but it's still slavery.

Those chickens won't even remember being slaves when they are lying battered and deep fried on my plate.

I would be surprised if they could remember!

 

I tend think in evolutionary terms. Humans have enslaved just about every creature we can get our hands on. If it's not for food or tools, then it's been for entertainment.

When it comes to making you work for free (under threat), that isn't really different than making a mule plow a field. Obviously in both cases the reason is because I don't want to do it myself.

But to your point, acquiring eggs are a lot different than making a human work or do terrible things.

What's not different is the hens are rendering a service they otherwise wouldn't be.

I worked in a slaughter house for a short time so I'm not saying all the methods are cruel and unnecessary, but most are.

I also met a lot of good hearted farmers that care for their animals but that's really only because it's in the farmers best interest to do so (their livelihood and health of consumers).

Going a step further, I think most cases of human hunting and foraging can be viewed as parasitic. In many cases it's symbiotic but not necessarily 50/50. Acquiring non human milk is a very strange example.

Putting this all together looks like slavery to me. It takes many forms and has degrees of severity but it's still slavery.



I would be surprised if they could remember!

Twisted logic of the most inhumane type to equate human slavery to chickens laying eggs in cages. Thank goodness this sort of IMO weird, unrelated to natural reality, thinking is limited to a tiny majority that are IMO clueless about real human suffering.

It never ends well for the chicken.

 

Twisted logic of the most inhumane type to equate human slavery to chickens laying eggs in cages. Thank goodness this sort of IMO weird, unrelated to natural reality, thinking is limited to a tiny majority that are IMO clueless about real human suffering.

That's quite the response and it has almost nothing to do with what I said.

 

In Colorado

I also live in CO where "we" voted for humane chickens. The price went up for many reasons. Now people say "F.... the chickens, give me lower prices. I don't care if there is no food value to caged eggs."
This is how Save the Planet works. If it costs $0.10 more for fuel, then forget it.

 

How does putting eggs in a cage change their food value?

 

Those chickens won't even remember being slaves when they are lying battered and deep fried on my plate.

I know you’re making a joke but i thought I’d add a little perspective to the egg discussion.

We don’t eat the chickens that lay eggs, we eat broilers. Breeding has made broilers far more efficient than layers at quickly turning a small amount of feed into chicken meat. No one could afford to raise layers for meat production and so males are culled after hatching. They toss them in a wood chipper and convert them back into feed. (Just today I read that there is work underway to sex chickens still in the egg, to cull them before they even hatch.) Of course the hens go on to lay eggs until they meet some other demise.

Stock animals on a farm are alive because of their jobs. They are not slaves any more than the farmer is.

Fun fact: The farmed chickens in Kauai were set free by a hurricane decades ago, mingled with wild birds, and now roam free with protected status. They’re everywhere on the island. I thought you could make a fortune with a KFC, Kauai Fried Chicken food truck. Just park in an area until the local birds are gone and then move. But alas, apparently that would be frowned upon.

 

"Thelma and Louise were last seen on Highway 8 going east"


It never ends well for the chicken.

 

They toss them in a wood chipper...

The horrors.

It sounds just like the Chinese former 'One Child' policy.

 

Chickens are like cattle, the females produce eggs and milk, and the males make for good eating. More than one rooster in a flock is trouble and the top rooster will destroy any others. When hens quit laying and the young roosters in the flock are culled for Sunday dinners in the backyard coops. Also, just got word that the State of Georgia has now been hit with the avian flu epidemic and chicken meat will soon be "not on the shelf" in a state who's the No. 1 USA producer of chicken. Georgia is the No. 1 chicken meat producing state and No 2 in egg production. Yes, the farmers only grow one variety of chickens for meat and that is the large white chicken that was genetically chosen for its ability to put on the most weight with the least amount of feed. Same with egg layers. Which is why chicks are culled like they are. On the old homestead the only culling was for meat on the table. Live chick producers with multiple breeds offered have to cull males as there is very little sales demand for roosters.

 

https://www.denverpost.com/2025/01/28/colorado-egg-prices-grocery-shortages-bird-flu-cage-free/
Egg prices way up as some Colorado grocery stores face shortages