What Does Cage-Free Mean? | Cage-Free Egg Laws & Certification Explained
- darren wong
- Apr 18
- 4 min read
Updated: 10 hours ago
What Does Cage-Free Mean? (And Why It's Shaking Up the Egg Industry)
If you've wandered through the egg section at your local grocery store lately, you've probably noticed a flurry of labels: organic, free-range, pasture-raised, and of course, cage-free. But what exactly does "cage-free" mean? And why are so many states passing cage-free egg laws that are changing how farms produce eggs and sell them in the state?
Let’s crack it open.
What Does Cage-Free Eggs Mean?
When it comes to the egg industry, “cage-free” means that hens aren’t kept in conventional cages. Instead, they live in large indoor cage free facilities where they have the freedom to roam around, stretch their wings, perch, dust, bathe, and lay their eggs in a nest box.
Rising consumer demand for animal welfare has driven more farms to adopt cage-free systems. It’s also led multiple states to pass strict cage-free egg laws that dictate how eggs are produced and sold in the state.
But quick heads-up: cage-free doesn’t mean the same thing as free-range or pasture-raised. Cage-free hens stay indoors, and they get to engage in natural behaviors mentioned above.
The Rise of Cage-Free Egg Laws and Their Impact on Your Farm
Due to consumer demand for higher-welfare eggs, cage-free egg laws are popping up all over the map. These laws set the ground rules for how farmers care for cage-free hens including how much space they need (usually at least one square foot per bird) and access to enrichments like perches and nests.
A list of states and their cage-free regulations that have rolled out in the U.S can be found at the end of this article.
Even if your state isn’t on the list (yet!), cage-free eggs are being asked for by consumers. If you’re selling eggs across state lines, upgrading to a cage-free system could be key to staying competitive and maintaining market access.
What Does a Farm Need to Do to Stay Compliant?
If you’re a farm with more than 3,000 egg-laying hens, these new regulations probably already have your attention. To stay compliant with cage-free egg laws, farms need to:
✓ Transition to a cage-free facility
✓ Provide at least one square foot of space per cage-free hen
✓ Add enrichments (nests, perches, dust baths) so hens can engage in natural behavior
✓ Keep detailed records and reports
✓ Pass regular animal welfare certification audits
And if you’re looking for formal certification? You’ll want something that checks all the boxes for cage-free compliance: like the UEP Certified Cage-Free program, the American Humane Certified Program or the Certified Humane program. This ensures your eggs are produced under a verified animal welfare standard that meets state cage-free laws. These programs allow for dual certification, meaning one audit can account for two certifications.
What’s the Cage-Free Audit Process Like?
Getting Certified is straightforward, but it does require a bit of homework. Here’s the breakdown:
Submit Application to Validus Services
Undergo an Animal Welfare Audit for UEP Certified Cage-Free, American Humane Certified or Certified Humane (independent auditors from Validus by Where Food Comes From will handle this part)
Pay Your Annual Administrative Fee
Once your auditor submits a report to Validus, Validus will issue an approval (if applicable), and you’ll be Certified Cage-Free.
Staying certified requires ongoing effort:
Annual audits
Maintaining space requirements
No mixing certified/non-certified eggs
No feed withdrawal molts or tolerance of abuse
Fail an audit? You’ll have around 4 weeks to correct things and schedule a re-audit (at your own expense). If things still don’t pass, a committee will review your certification status.
What’s Next for Cage-Free Regulations?
The writing is on the wall: the cage-free egg movement isn’t slowing down. More states are passing cage-free egg laws. Many grocery stores and restaurant chains are already pledging to go 100% cage-free.
Ready to Make the Transition to Cage-Free?
If you’re an egg producer thinking about transitioning to a cage-free facility, now’s the time. You’ll not only stay compliant with cage-free egg laws but also tap into new markets and meet growing consumer demand.
Need help figuring it all out? That’s where we come in. Our consulting services and certification support make it easy to upgrade your operation and stay ahead of the curve.
Contact us today to get started!
515.278.8002
A list of requirements by state can be found below. Remember, even if your state isn’t on the list (yet), cage-free eggs are being asked for by consumers. If you’re selling eggs across state lines, upgrading to a cage-free system could be key to staying competitive and maintaining market access. |
California
Proposition 12 passed in 2018.
By 2022, all eggs sold in the state must come from cage-free hens.
Colorado
House Bill 1343 passed in 2020.
As of 2023, all eggs sold in the state must be cage-free with the label CO-COM.
By 2025, farmers must house all egg-laying hens in cage-free systems.
Massachusetts
Question 3 (2016) and Bill S.2470 require that all eggs sold in the state be cage-free as of 2022.
Michigan
Senate Bill 174 passed in 2019.
By the end of 2025, all eggs produced and sold in the state must be cage-free.
Nevada
Assembly Bill 399 passed in 2021.
Cage-free hens (plus enrichments!) are required by the end of 2024.
Oregon
Senate Bill 1019 requires cage-free egg production and sales by 2024.
Rhode Island
House Bill 7456 mandates cage-free hens by 2026.
Utah
Senate Bill 147 requires cage-free housing by 2025.
Washington
House Bill 2049 requires all eggs sold in the state to be cage-free as of 2023.