“We know [cage-free] is not better for hens,” said Chad Gregory, president of United Egg Producers, which represents most American egg farmers. And activists, many of whom espouse veganism, “want to take away consumer choices,” Gregory said. “Ultimately, they’re not going to eat our product anyway.”

I found it tickling how on the one hand the logic on Gregory's side: there's a no reason to change production seeing as this isn't a consumer driven movement, yet the other side being the activists aren't a consumer group as a result of so many mal-practices (in their eyes).

I'll be the first to admit I'm dense, but wouldn't lower mortality rates for chickens mean more time for the chickens to produce eggs, resulting in less money invested raising/buying other egg-layers?

“Well-educated, affluent Americans, that’s where we’re seeing these attitudinal changes most directly,” said Janet Davis, a University of Texas historian and author of “The Gospel of Kindness: Animal Welfare and the Making of Modern America.” But when mass-market companies such as Walmart swear off caged eggs, “it does indicate a wholesale shift,” she said.

No real comment here, just thought this was an interesting quote.

On the topic of the second article, loved it as a sequel. Thanks for both. Intriguing to see calling for cage-free eggs makes people default to an old way of thinking/operating. The second article outlines the differences more than well enough. While the industry has progressed to become, well, industrial, people's interest on what goes in their body now is the hindrance. Further, it reads like third parties can easily make a money game of the ability to "certify" cage-free eggs due to lack of (dare I say) federal regulation.

On the whole, surprised going back to the old way is best solution thus far when it comes to eliminating cages.