California egg sector struggles with solutions to cage ban

California's Proposition 2 will ban the use of all conventional battery cages in the state from 2015, and the local egg industry is scrambling to find practical solutions for compliancy.

The new law requires all layers to be able to stretch their wings without touching another bird or a cage wall.

But California's egg producers said they do not know how to comply with the vague language of the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, short of allowing hens to range free.

An egg producer said they aren't willing to invest millions of dollars without clear standards on stocking densities, height and width. Already egg producers are lobbying in the California State Capitol to lawmakers to clarify the requirements and address the added cost to meet them.

Egg ranchers argue that the requirements will add a penny to the cost of each egg, and could drive them out of business as they compete with operations in other states that do not have the same rules. Producers are seeking ways to keep their hens in cages and still comply with the rules, as caging systems make it easier and more cost-effective for farmers to feed hens, keep them clean and collect their eggs.

The question is how much space chickens must have, said Debbie Murdock, executive director of the United Egg Producers.

In the meantime, California has recently introduced a new bill that requires competing farmers in other states to adopt the standard if they want to sell eggs there.

Restaurant chains such as Burger King and Wendy's have started using more cage-free eggs due to popular public sentiment.

Society officials said cage-free hens could position California farmers to dominate the fast-growing specialty egg market, which accounts for about five percent of nationwide sales.