Rethinking Caged Eggs

Why Australia's Move Away from Caged Egg Farming Is a Mistake

Oh, the irony! Australia's ambitious plan to phase out caged egg farming by 2036 seems less focused on innovation and more about throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Let's be honest: when you swap modern, controlled environments for free-range systems, you're pretty much inviting chaos - plus a hefty dose of avian influenza.

"Australia's plan to phase out caged egg farming overlooks scientific and economic benefits, prioritizing emotion over evidence. Free-range systems increase disease risks, raise egg prices and lower productivity. Modernizing caged systems would better support food security, animal welfare, and sustainability."

Yes, really - free-range farming, celebrated as the pinnacle of ethical production, exposes hens to wild birds, pests and an uncontrollable environment that practically screams 'disease hotspot.' Just look at the latest headlines:

• ABC reports on the ongoing bird flu crisis and egg shortages impacting supermarkets in Victoria and NSW at https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2025-02-11/bird-flu-egg-farms-shortage-supermarkets-vic-nsw/104921896.
• Another piece by ABC outlines the avian influenza outbreak in Victoria at https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-31/avian-influenza-outbreak-victoria-bird-flu-in-australia/104812212.
• SBS dives into why Australia now faces an egg shortage and where you can even find eggs at https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/why-australia-faces-an-egg-shortage-and-where-you-can-find-them/x0537ydg2.
• And The Guardian spells it out, detailing the new outbreak and what you need to know at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/feb/10/bird-flu-eggs-australia-new-outbreak-what-you-need-to-know.

The evidence is stacking up like an over-eager hen on a sunny day. Modern caged systems, especially those with enriched cages, have been quietly offering a better quality of life for hens - giving them enough room for natural behaviors without the risks of overcrowding or wild exposure. Meanwhile, free-range operations have seen higher mortality rates and increased production costs, pushing egg prices to stratospheric levels and leaving low-income families scrambling.

Rather than chasing a noble, yet impractical, free-range dream, perhaps Australia should focus on modernizing caged systems. With improved ventilation, better feed and stricter biosecurity measures, we could support food security, animal welfare and sustainability all at once.

In the end, evidence-based policies should guide our decisions - not the emotional appeals of activists. After all, Victoria’s avian influenza (H7N3) outbreak affected free-range farms, not caged systems. Maybe it's time to question if abandoning a system with proven benefits was really the best way to go.

So next time you're enjoying an egg - if you can find one - remember that sometimes, tradition really does have its merits.