This update of U.S cage-free production is sponsored by Big Dutchman USA for the benefit of producers in North America.

The USDA Cage-Free Report covering April 2025, was released on May 2^nd 2025.

The report documented the complement of hens producing under the Certified Organic Program to be 20.4 million (rounded to 0.1 million), unchanged from March 2025. The number of hens classified as cage-free (but excluding Certified Organic) and comprising aviary, barn and other systems of housing apparently decreased by 0.1 million hens or 0.1 percent from March 2025 to 105.3 million.

Depopulation was carried out as a result of HPAI through the fourth quarter of 2024 and continuing in January and February 2025 (31 million) but with lower intensity in March (0.2 million) and April (1.0 million).

Average weekly production for Certified Organic eggs in April 2025 was down 0.1 percent compared to March 2025 with a questionably high average weekly production of 84.2 percent. Average weekly flock production for cage-free flocks other than Certified Organic was down 0.1 percent percent in April 2025, but with a high average hen-month production of 82.9 percent. Seasonally placed younger flocks in anticipation of periods of peak seasonal demand increase the availability of cage-free and organic eggs in response to pullet chick placements 20 weeks previously.

There is no adequate explanation for the high production rate especially if the reported number of hens is lower than actual, and in view of a possible undercount following HPAI flock depopulation.

According to the USDA Egg Markets Overview and data from the weekly USDA Shell Egg Demand Indicator for April 30^th the categorization of U.S. flocks according to housing system among the total of 283 million producing hens on April 1^st comprised:-

Caged, 157.3 million (55.7%);

Cage Free, 105.3 million (37.1%) with 87% in barns and 8% each on free-range and pasture;

Organic, 20.4 million (7.2%) with 90% in barns and 5.0% each on free-range and pasture:

Losses attributed to HPAI in 2025 to date comprised:-

Caged flocks, 20.3 million representing 7.1 percent of nominal hens in production

Cage-free flocks, 11.0 million representing 3.9 percent

Organic flocks, negligible, >0.1 percent

*Validity of this unchanged population questioned

On May 5^th USDA recorded the following National inventory levels expressed in 30-dozen cases with the weekly change as a percentage of the total quantity of eggs:-

Commodity shell eggs of all sizes. 1,217,300. (+3.6%)

Commodity breaking stock. 274,100. (-9.2%)

Specialty eggs. 41,000. (-5.0%)

Certified organic eggs. 75,000. (-2.6%)

Cage Free eggs 363,200. (+0.5%)

*March report listed only Brown, April report listed only White. All regions listed the same price

Negotiated nest-run grade-ready cage-free price for April 2025 averaged $4.48 per dozen, down $0.89 per dozen (16.6 percent) from $5.37 per dozen in March 2025, reflecting an imbalance between demand relative to supply.

The April 2025 advertised U.S. featured retail price for Large White cage-free eggs over only four regions (NE, SE, MW and SC.) was $7.99 per dozen. This compares with 153 stores offering cage-free Large Brown in March and reflects few promotions as the year has progressed, consistent with the high incidence rate of HPAI during January and February followed by a decline.

The recorded average wholesale price of $4.48 per dozen plus a provision of $0.60 cents per dozen for packaging, packing and transport, resulted in a theoretical price of $5.08 per dozen delivered to CDs. The average four-region advertised promotional retail price of $7.99 per dozen corresponds to a theoretical average retail margin of 57.2 percent (-16.4 percent last month for Large C-F brown) but with few promotions offered by limited number of stores featuring cage-free eggs. Margins are presumed higher for non-featured eggs including pastured and other specialty eggs at shelf prices attaining in excess of $9.00 per dozen in high-end supermarket chains. Retailers maximizing margins especially on Certified Organic, free-range and pastured categories restrict the volume of sales, ultimately disadvantageous to producers.