eggs

[phantom power]

I was born in 1969. So, in the time it took a single human to go from fetus to middle-aged desk jockey, the scale of an egg-laying flock rose by four orders of magnitude -- i.e. a million fucking percent. And similarly the number of egg producing companies dropped by the same four orders of magnitude.

In 1969, according to a study by a group of CDC researchers led by Jeremy Sobel, the nation’s eggs were produced by 470,832 layer-hen farms with an average of 632 hens per farm. By 1992, the number of farms had dropped by 85 percent, while the average number of hens per farm increased by 470 percent, to nearly 3,000 hens per flock. Today, according to the American Egg Board, approximately sixty-three companies—each with flocks of one million hens or more—produce roughly 86 percent of the nation’s eggs. Seventeen of these companies, says the American Egg Board, have flocks of five million hens or more.

http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2016/1/6/121817/2557

[TexasProgresive]

1. In the 50s and 60s there were dozens of egg producers and dairies in my local area.

My family was one of the egg producers. The farm directly employed about 15 people and gave income to smaller producers by buying their eggs. We had the equipment to candle, clean, grade, pack and store the eggs. We sold to wholesalers and directly to retail outlets for about 100 miles. There is only one egg producer left for miles and miles and not a dairy in sight.

When there is talk about family farms I wonder what they are talking about. This one supports no one any longer. It does allow for a few dollars by running a few cows and goats but the "glory" days are gone. I say "glory" because it was hard work but everyone worked together and nobody starved or got rich.

[NickB79]

2. Do we just eat that many more eggs, or were small home flocks that much more common in 1969?

My 6 hens lay 30 eggs per week in the summer (half that in winter), so I'm typically giving away eggs even in winter.

[FBaggins]

3. The later

The number of laying hens is largely unchanged since 1969. Perhaps even down slightly.

[TalkingDog]

4. We've got 6 too.

I find that if you charge simply to recoup feed costs people will gladly buy them.

We pasture ours, free roaming if you will, and feed them pellets if they want them. After doing a little calculating, it works out to roughly 1.50 per dozen eggs.

"Organic" (uncertified, but we don't use manufactured chemicals on anything in the Yarden) free range eggs for 1.50? People snap them up.

[NickB79]

5. I don't even figure cost anymore. They're pets and free compost machines to me

We have 1.5 acres that I'm permaculture landscaping, and just chicken tractoring them in the garden and on the lawn nets massive fertility gains from their manure.

[TalkingDog]

6. Pretty much the same here. Sadly, we can't afford to give ours away.

The Spousal Unit works for County Government and has had one raise in 6 years totaling .49 cents. Yay Red State Austerity!

We just finished our greenhouse with slip-strawed walls and a Cobb built Rocket Mass Stove. As soon as we can run the wiring, we'll use a small solar panel/battery set up for lights and small fans to circulate air.

[NickB79]

7. That sounds awesome

Building a rocket stove is on my to-do list someday.

[hunter]

10. I miss keeping chickens. Most of my siblings do.

Our current pack of dogs, all rescues from the animal shelter, are not chicken friendly.

We don't buy the kind of dog kibble that's mostly corn meal mixed with chicken meat "by-products," nevertheless most affordable grain-free style dog foods have chicken in them.

Probably the most ethical way to feed our dogs would be hunting feral pigs and other invasive species. I'm certain the Catahoula we're fostering for a family member would love that.

[Nihil]

8. Also ...

US population in 1969: 202 million

US population in 2015: 320 million

So 58% increase in potential consumers (ignoring import/export markets)
who are now more likely to buy from a supermarket than either at a local market
or directly from a farmer means that the corporate "farms" have more power
than the small producers - hence amalgamation into mega-flocks in order
to profit from (false) economies of scale.

[GreatGazoo]

9. Bred and killed for food annually in the USA: 9 billion chickens

About 28 chickens per American.