Colorado’s Cage-Free Egg Law: Making Omelets Out of Your Wallet

If you have bought a dozen eggs lately, you likely noticed a spike in the price. My kind constituents have, as indicated by an email I received this morning:

I was shocked to hear store's cannot sell eggs that are not cage free in Colorado. Please tell me how this came to be. Is there a way to reverse this?
Thanks,
Deb 

Sorry, Deb, but like most things Colorado General Assembly, this turd was laid four years ago, and the stench is just now reaching the public. I’ll share my response with Deb at the end of this post, but be advised: Thanks to the brainchildren in the Colorado General Assembly, your sunny-side-up habit is about to put a dent in your wallet.

Why? Because in 2020, Denver/Boulder elites decided it would be so humane to mandate that all eggs sold in the state come from cage-free chickens by 2025. Now the rest of the state is stuck scrambling to make ends meet. Let’s unpack this carton of madness.

How the Hell Did We Get Here?

In 2020, Colorado passed House Bill 20-1343, requiring all eggs sold in the state to come from cage-free facilities. Animal welfare groups and progressive urbanites pushed the legislation, citing the supposed moral imperative to let chickens spread their wings, perch, and pretend they’re free-range warriors. While it might sound great in theory (cue violins for the hens), the practical implications are less egg-citing: higher prices, more regulation, and fewer options for consumers.

The Big Players Behind the Push

1. Animal Welfare Advocates: These groups, including the Humane Society of the United States, made their case by tugging at heartstrings and showing videos of chickens crammed into battery cages. Do chickens deserve better conditions? Sure. But at what cost to struggling families?
2. Corporate Virtue Signaling: Big chains like Walmart and McDonald’s pledged to go cage-free nationwide. Translation: They wanted to score brownie points with millennials while passing the costs on to you. Guess who’s footing the bill? Not the execs raking in bonuses.
3. Urban Liberals: The Boulder set seems to think everyone in the state can afford Whole Foods prices for their omelets. Spoiler: They can’t.

The Shell-Shocking Costs

Raising hens cage-free costs more. Way more. Farmers are shelling out cash to retrofit facilities or build new ones, and those costs are being passed on to—you guessed it—the consumer.

Add avian flu to the mix (hello, 2022 epidemic that decimated flocks) and skyrocketing inflation for fuel, feed, and fertilizer, and it’s no wonder eggs are becoming the next Bitcoin. Nationwide, egg prices were already soaring, but in Colorado, this law is like throwing gasoline on a dumpster fire.

Here’s the kicker: The phased implementation means we’re just starting to feel the full impact. By 2025, when cage-free is mandatory, you might need a payment plan for your weekly dozen. Additionally, the avian flu has forced many egg producers to dramatically reduce, if not completely eliminate, their flocks. Fewer chickens result in fewer eggs in the grocery store, leading to higher prices. (HPJ)

Can This Be Reversed?

In theory, yes. In reality, don’t count your chickens before they hatch (really, writing this article is like shooting metaphors in a barrel).

• Legislative Action: Sure, a legislator could propose a repeal, but with Democrats dominating the Colorado General Assembly, this is about as likely as chickens learning to lay golden eggs (Wait, with today’s prices, they practically are!).

• Ballot Initiative: Citizens could rally signatures to put a repeal measure on the ballot. There may be hope — if enough people realize how much this law is gouging their grocery budgets.

But both options face fierce opposition from the same well funded animal welfare groups and Denver/Boulder liberal elites who passed the legislation. They will dig deep into their trust fund-infused wallets to combat any effort at a repeal.

What Can You Do?

• Make Noise: Email your state legislators. Let them know how this law is affecting your wallet.
• Shop Smart: Stock up on eggs now—or get ready to smuggle in the cheap stuff from Wyoming. (I won’t tell.)
• Stay Informed: Share this website post, talk to your neighbors, and follow how these policies are shaping the state. Knowledge is power, and so is collective outrage.

As a Weld County Commissioner, what do I plan to do?

I’ll consult with our County Attorney to see if there may be some teeth (er, beak, in this case) in Weld’s “Right to Farm” status, in combination with our home rule charter. I am afraid that may be grasping at straws. Damn sure, I will raise my voice in the halls of the state capitol. Of course, I did that in 2020, and, like all things Denver/Boulder elite, they ignored rural voices (we’re just stupid rednecks, dontcha know).

Why This Is Just Plain Stupid

Let’s cut the chicken crap. This isn’t about chickens—it’s about control. The urban elites who pushed this law don’t know the first thing about agricultural production and don’t care that small farmers are being crushed under the financial burden, or that families in rural Colorado pay for their moral preening. They get to feel virtuous, and the rest of us get screwed.

So, the next time you crack an egg, remember this: It’s not just yolk inside. It’s the bitter taste of regulatory overreach by Denver/Boulder elites, who think they know better how to make an omelet than you.

Anywho, back to my kind constituent, Deb. Here’s my response to her:

Dear Deb,

Thank you for reaching out with your question about Colorado’s recent cage-free egg requirements. I share your frustration about this utterly ridiculous policy crafted by Denver/Boulder liberal elites, and I’m happy to provide some context on how we arrived at this point and discuss potential paths forward.

How Did This Happen?

Colorado’s law requiring eggs sold in the state to come from cage-free environments stems from a broader national movement advocating for animal welfare. In 2020, the Colorado General Assembly passed House Bill 20-1343, which set standards for the treatment of egg-laying hens. The law requires all eggs sold in Colorado to come from hens housed in cage-free facilities by 2025. Retailers and producers had a multi-year phase-in period to make the transition.

The driving force behind the legislation includes:

- Animal Welfare Advocacy: Proponents argue that cage-free systems allow hens to exhibit natural behaviors like perching, nesting, and spreading their wings, which are impossible in traditional battery cages.

- Consumer Demand: Surveys suggest that many consumers prefer purchasing eggs from cage-free sources when given the option, even if they cost more.

- Industry Trends: Major retailers and food companies, such as Walmart and McDonald’s, have committed to sourcing cage-free eggs nationally, creating pressure for uniform standards. It’s virtue signaling at the corporate level, completely dismissing the price sensitivities of their consumers.

Economic and Practical Implications

For consumers, this law has contributed to higher egg prices, as cage-free systems are more expensive to build and maintain. Combine this with the fact that the avian flu has forced many egg producers to dramatically reduce, if not completely eliminate, their flocks. Fewer chickens = fewer eggs in the grocery story = higher prices. Farmers have also faced significant costs to retrofit facilities or build new ones, a burden that smaller operations may find particularly challenging. Of course, all this has occurred at a time when the Biden administration has driven up inflation and the cost of agricultural inputs, such as fuel, fertilizer, feed, etc. 

Is There a Way to Reverse This?

Reversing or amending the law would require legislative action or a ballot initiative. Here’s how that process could unfold:

- Legislative Changes: A state legislator would need to introduce a bill to repeal or modify the existing law. This would involve public hearings, committee reviews, and eventually a vote in the legislature. Because of Democrat dominance in the Colorado General Assembly, it is highly unlikely this will happen. 

- Ballot Initiative: Concerned citizens could gather signatures to put a repeal measure on the ballot, allowing Colorado voters to decide. A tall order, but my sense is that this would pass if the measure actually hit the ballot box.

Both pathways require significant public support and would face opposition from the same animal welfare groups and well heeled Denver/Boulder liberal elites who advocated for the legislation to begin with.

What Can You Do?

If you feel strongly about this issue, here are a few steps you can take:

- Contact Your State Legislators: Share your concerns and ask if they support revisiting the law.

- Engage with Community Groups: Connect with others who share your perspective to organize and advocate for change.

- Stay Informed: Monitor how the law impacts farmers, prices, and the market to strengthen your argument.

Thank you for taking the time to inquire about this important issue. As your neighbors start to buy eggs in 2025, it will become apparent to them that something has changed. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have further questions or need additional resources.

Best regards,

skj