Layer farms· May 2026·8 min read
Enriched cages vs cage-free: 2026 economics for layer farms
Capex, opex and welfare premium — a frank look at when each system pays back in different regulatory environments.
Enriched colony systems still beat cage-free aviary on capex per bird and on feed conversion, but the welfare premium on cage-free eggs has narrowed the gap in markets where retailers source exclusively cage-free.
The honest answer: run the numbers for your specific market, retail channel and energy cost before committing.