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The USDA Cage-Free Report covering August 2025, was released on September 3rd 2025.  

The report documented the complement of hens producing under the Certified Organic Program to be 20.0 million (rounded to 0.1 million), unchanged from July 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 2.5 million hens or 2.2 percent from July 2025 to 116.3 million, attributed to repopulation of depleted flocks.

Depopulation was carried out as a result of HPAI through the fourth quarter of 2024 and continuing in January and February 2025 (31 million), but with lower intensity in March (0.2 million), with April at 1.0 million and a single large complex in May (3.8 million).

Average weekly production for Certified Organic eggs in August 2025 was down 0.1 percent (rounded) compared to July 2025 with a questionably high average weekly production of 83.7 percent. Average weekly flock production for cage-free flocks other than Certified Organic was up 2.1 percent in August 2025, and with a high average hen-month production of 82.4 percent.  Seasonally placed flocks in anticipation of periods of peak demand will increase the availability of cage-free and organic eggs, reflecting pullet chick placements 20 weeks previously.

There is no adequate explanation for the high production rates recorded especially if the reported number of hens is lower than actual, and in view of a possible undercount following HPAI flock depopulation. It is assumed that almost all cage free flocks are in the first cycle of production with negligible molting contributing to the high average in hen week values compared to caged hens.

According to the USDA Egg Markets Overview and data from the weekly USDA Shell Egg Demand Indicator, the categorization of U.S. flocks according to housing system among 292.2 million producing hens or a total flock of 296.9 hens on August 1st comprised:-

Caged, 160.5 million, up 4.1 million and comprising 54.1 percent of the total flock;

Cage Free (non-organic), 116.3 million (39.2% of total flock) with 86.2% of this population in barns, 7.2% on free-range and 6.6% on pasture;

Cage Free (organic), 20.0 million, unchanged from July with 60.0% of this population in barns and 23.5% on free-range and 16.5% on pasture or other extensive systems

 Losses attributed to HPAI in 2025 to date comprised:-

   Caged flocks, 20.2 million representing 7.0 percent of a nominal 286 million producing hens    

   Cage-free flocks, 14.8 million representing 5.2 percent

   Organic flocks, negligible, >0.1 percent

On September 3rd USDA recorded the following National inventory levels expressed in 30-dozen cases (rounded) with the monthly change as a percentage of the total quantity of eggs:-

Commodity shell eggs of all sizes.                1,388,700. (+0.9%)

Commodity breaking stock.                            305,400. (-10.9%)

Specialty eggs.                                                  37,100.  (-4.9%)

Certified organic eggs.                                      91,400. (+10.4%)

Cage Free eggs                                                413,500. (+2.1%)                        

Negotiated nest-run grade-ready cage-free price for August 2025 averaged $1.93 per dozen, down $0.34 per dozen (15.0 percent) from $2.27 per dozen in July 2025, reflecting a restoration of balance between demand and supply.

The August 2025 advertised U.S. featured retail price for Large White cage-free eggs over 761 stores in four regions (NW, SW, MW and SC.) was $3.05 per dozen. This compares with 758 stores featuring cage-free Large White in July and reflects fewer promotions as the year has progressed, consistent with the negligible incidence rate of HPAI since late May. The August 2025 advertised U.S. featured retail price for Large Brown cage-free eggs over 2,378 stores in all six regions was $3.74 per dozen with a range of $3.47 per dozen in the SC region to $4.99 per dozen in the NE region.

The recorded average wholesale price of $3.78 per dozen for brown and white cage-free  combined plus a provision of $0.60 cents per dozen for packaging, packing and transport, resulted in a theoretical price of $4.38 per dozen delivered to CDs. The average advertised promotional retail price of $3.74 per dozen for Brown and $3.05 per dozen for white represented negative retail margins of 30.4 percent for featured White and 1.0 percent for Brown respectively.  Fewer promotions were offered for White compared to Brown cage-free by stores reflecting the balance between supply and demand for the two broad categories. Margins are presumed higher for non-featured eggs including pastured and other specialty eggs at shelf prices attaining in excess of $8.00 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.