Commercial Egg Production in California

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Commercial Egg Production in California
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Jam Lady

Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2571
Location: New Jersey, USA

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 14 3:16 pm Post subject: Commercial Egg Production in California

Changes, changes.

https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/04/business/theyre-going-to-wish-they-all-could-be-california-hens.html?hp&_r=0

I buy my eggs from bottom-of-driveway type farm stands, or from a friend's farm with pastured chickens. Price is $3 to $4 per dozen. One has conveniently opened very close to home. Biggest issue is (with my friend's farm) that unless I'm there relatively early in the morning he sells out, especially in winter when the hens are not laying so well.

But for people who must buy from a store (live in big cities, for example) the California system is, I believe, the future of egg production.

What do you think?

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 14 3:40 pm Post subject:
Awful conditions, even roomy cages are not the way to keep chickens but I'd give my right arm to still be able to get some of those white Leghorn types. Given a chance they'd do really well, on grass scratching about in one of my orchards.

Mr O

Joined: 13 Feb 2005
Posts: 5512
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 14 3:57 pm Post subject:
I would not buy eggs from caged chickens.

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 14 4:59 pm Post subject:
You can't deny that this is the way forward - we (mostly) here probably wouldn't dream of buying cage eggs, but producers can't just cater for our tastes, it's hard to make a living with such a small market which can, possibly, give you price, but not the volume needed for full time earnings.

baldybloke

Joined: 24 May 2008
Posts: 1388
Location: Wiltshire

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 14 5:09 pm Post subject:
Currently reading Farmageddon (The true cost of cheap meat) by Phillip Lymbery. This book covers the subject in depth and very enlightening it is too.

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 14 5:12 pm Post subject:
I haven't seen a copy of that yet, but I've heard a lot about it - I hope it has a positive and lasting effect upon buying habits, and I also hope it is accurate - Phillip has a habit of over egging the spoon at times, and it does noone any favours if it's not 100% accurate.

baldybloke

Joined: 24 May 2008
Posts: 1388
Location: Wiltshire

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 14 5:17 pm Post subject:
Seems to be well researched and written. Only 50 pages in so too early to give a real opinion as yet. Last edited by baldybloke on Tue Mar 04, 14 6:23 pm; edited 2 times in total

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46211
Location: yes

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 14 6:05 pm Post subject:

chooks deserve respect ,making them pay is not easy but there is no excuse for caged or even barn with popholes if there is no reason for em to pop out

even some back garden chooks dont have freedom to be chooks

see a happy flock and use those eggs is best but if shopping the free range label is the best one can do .i miss my chooks but truly free range also has disadvantages for both the chooks ,the wildlife and the economics ,best eggs ever though.

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 14 6:22 pm Post subject:
I'm not certain but what's the bet that those caged birds would qualify for the Red Tractor label?

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 14 7:48 pm Post subject:
Probably, but then Red Tractor is just a farm assurance scheme, and Red Tractor is better than nothing (unless you know your source).

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46211
Location: yes

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 14 7:54 pm Post subject:
trust the label is not as good as mark one eyeball

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 14 8:00 pm Post subject:
Indeed

Flamin'Panda

Joined: 09 Feb 2014
Posts: 464
Location: Azores

Posted: Wed Mar 05, 14 5:22 pm Post subject:

Mr O wrote:

I would not buy eggs from caged chickens.

No, buy from caged farmers instead!

Castle Farm

Joined: 17 Sep 2008
Posts: 457
Location: Powys/Hereford Border.Near Hay-on-Wye

Posted: Sat Mar 08, 14 6:01 pm Post subject:
It's not only the cage size or the way they are housed it's what they feed them concerns me. I take a commercial poultry publication and it's fairly scary what they come up with to keep these birds alive and producing.

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Sat Mar 08, 14 6:08 pm Post subject:
Are you still feeding straights, Castle Farm?

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