Cage-Free the Name of the Game in U.S. Egg Farm Construction

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Written by Eric Funderburk for IIR News Intelligence (Sugar Land, Texas)

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Summary

Cage-free egg production is behind most of the current and planned construction at U.S. egg farms.

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Substantial Market Growth

The market for cage-free eggs is behind a substantial amount of the construction, both planned and underway, at U.S. egg farms, and the data backs up the movement. In a recent report, United Egg Producers reported that in 2025, 47% of the U.S. layer flock was in cage-free production, up from less than 5% in 2010.

Both consumer demand and legislative action are driving the shift to cage-free facilities. Certain states, including California, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, dictate that shell eggs and liquid eggs come from cage-free facilities. Consumer opinion also is shifting more toward more awareness of the welfare of the animals used in U.S. food production, driving the market away from traditional battery cages.

Current Construction

Hawaii is the destination of a significant expansion project from Waialua Fresh, a joint venture of major mainland egg distributors Hidden Villa Ranch and Rose Acre Farms (which is putting the finishing touches on a large cage-free facility in Arizona). Hawaii historically has relied on eggs from the mainland, something which was a problem when avian flu wiped out millions of layers from flocks in 2025, causing U.S. shortages and an extreme increase in price.

Avian flu is certainly not a dead issue, but farmers are rebuilding flocks and the number of deaths from flu or culling has decreased substantially from 2025. While the crisis has eased, the 2025 shortage prompted Waialua Fresh to get the ball rolling on an expansion of its already substantial cage-free facility on Oʻahu's North Shore.

Work began this summer on the construction of four new barns that will include three layer houses and a pullet house to raise young hens before they enter egg production. So, Waialua is making moves not only to increase its cage-free production, but also to sustain its flock. Construction of the new facilities is expected to wrap up by the end of the year.

Readers can access details of the project, including construction timelines, key contact details, and equipment and service needs, by clicking here.

Not all cage-free construction represents new-build facilities. Michael Foods acquired a previous egg operation in Le Sueur, Minnesota, and last year began the process of substantially renovating and converting eight to nine barns at the 408,000-square-foot operation into cage-free facilities. Each chicken house represents about 32,000 square feet, so the work is extensive, although it is planned to be largely completed by the end of this year.

Future Construction

More cage-free construction projects are anticipated. Pleasant Valley Farms has made substantial shifts in its egg farm operations in Farmington, California, and, according to the company, has been on a cage-free path since 2009. Pleasant Valley plans to add 115,000 square feet of cage-free laying house space next year, with the expectations of completing the project by the end of 2028.

New cage-free layer and pullet houses are on the cards for Dean's Eggs in Lake Mills, Wisconsin, in addition to other substantial structural modifications, while in Butler, Indiana, Graber Eggs is gearing up for an anticipated 89,000 to 100,000 square feet of new construction at a grassroot cage-free facility, which is anticipated to begin operating next year.

Key Takeaways

• Cage-free egg production is the driving force behind a substantial of current and future production at U.S. egg farms.
• United Egg Producers reports that 47% of the U.S. layer flock was in cage-free production in 2025, up from less than 5% in 2010.
• While substantial new cage-free construction is occurring, renovations and updates to traditional layer farms also are on the books.

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