This update of U.S cage-free production is sponsored by Big Dutchman USA for the benefit of producers in North America
Depopulation was carried out as required through the fourth quarter of 2024 and has continued through 2025 to date as a result of HPAI. The USDA Cage-Free Report covering February 2025, released on March 3rd 2025, documented the complement of hens producing under the Certified Organic Program to be 20.5 million (rounded to 0.1 million), up 0.1 million from January 2025. The number of hens classified as cage-free (but excluding Certified Organic) and comprising aviary, barn and other systems of housing apparently increased by 2.7 million hens or 2.7 percent from January 2025 to 103.7 million, despite extensive flock depopulation during the month.
Average weekly production for Certified Organic eggs in February 2025 was up 1.1 percent compared to January 2025 with a questionably high average weekly production of 84.0 percent. Average weekly flock production for cage-free flocks other than Certified Organic was up 3.3 percent in February 2025, but with a high average hen-month production of 82.7 percent, up from 82.6 percent. Seasonally, younger flocks increase the availability of cage-free and organic eggs in response to pullet chick placements 20 weeks previously especially in anticipation of periods of peak seasonal demand.
According to the USDA Egg Markets Overview the categorization of flocks according to housing system among the total of 292 million hens on
February 1st was:-
Caged, 169 million (57.2% of 292 million hens on February 1st.);
Cage Free, 102 million (34.9%) with 87% in barns and 8% each on free-range and pasture;
Organic, 21 million (7.2%) with 5% each on free-range and pasture:
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.
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Flock Size Average
(million hens)
|
February
2025
|
Average
Q4-2024
|
Average
Q3- 2024
|
Average
Q2 –
2024
|
Average
Q1 –
2024
|
Average
Q4-
2023
|
|
Certified Organic
|
20.5
|
20.5
|
20.0
|
18.8
|
18.3
|
18.7
|
|
Cage-Free Hens
|
103.7
|
104.5
|
103.9
|
101.0
|
105.7
|
106.4
|
|
Total Non-Caged
|
124.2
|
125.0
|
123.9
|
119.8
|
124.0
|
125.1
|
|
Average Weekly Production (cases of 360 eggs)
|
January
2025
|
February
2025
|
|
Certified Organic @ 83.8% hen/day
|
330,252
|
334,032 +1.1%
|
|
Cage-Free @ 82.6% hen/day
|
1,613,998
|
1,667,366 +3.3%
|
|
Total Non-Caged @ 82.8% hen/day
|
1,944,250
|
2,001,398 +2.9%
|
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Average Nest Run Contract Price Cage-Free Brown
|
$1.70/doz. (Unchanged since July 2024)
|
|
February 2025 Range:
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$1.35 to $2.35/doz. (unchanged since March 2023)
|
|
FOB Negotiated January price, grade-ready quality, loose nest-run. Price range $7.50 to $9.00 per dozen
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Average February 2025 Value of $7.77/doz. ($7.24/doz. January 2025)
|
|
Average February 2025 Advertised promotional National Retail Price C-F, Large Brown
|
$7.99/doz. February 2025 (4 regions)
(was $2.88/doz. in January 2025)
|
|
USDA Based on 4 Regions, 62 stores
Only NE, SE, MW & SC. (was 133 stores offering promotions)
|
Each Region, $7.99 /doz.
|
Negotiated nest-run grade-ready cage-free price for February 2025 averaged $7.74 per dozen, up 6.9 percent from $7.24 per dozen in January 2025, reflecting an imbalance between demand relative to supply. The February 2025 advertised U.S. featured retail price for cage-free eggs over only four regions (NE, SE, MW & SC.) was $7.99 per dozen, apparently up $5.11 per dozen from January 2025 based on 62 stores. This compares with 133 stores in January and reflects fewer promotions as the year has progressed reflecting the ongoing incidence rate of HPAI.
The recorded average wholesale price of $7.77 per dozen plus a provision of 60 cents per dozen for packaging, packing and transport, results in a price of $8.37 per dozen delivered to CDs. The average four-region advertised retail price of $7.99 per dozen corresponds to a theoretical average retail negative margin of 4.8 percent (-172.4 percent last month) for promotions offered by the few 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.