Starting Jan. 1, all eggs sold in Colorado must be cage-free. The law applies to any Colorado egg-producer with more than 3,000 egg-laying hens. In addition to chickens, the law also covers turkeys, ducks, geese and guinea fowl.
The law passed as House Bill 1343 in 2020 and first took effect at the beginning of 2023, mandating that each hen be given at least 1 square foot of floor space. The transition in 2025 requires that all farm owners have a “cage-free housing system,” allowing hens to roam free in containment. Hens must have access to scratch areas, nest boxes, dust bathing areas and perches.
The goal of the law is to improve animal welfare. Additionally, some Colorado producers already voluntarily follow cage-free requirements. Standardizing the practice is intended to create a fair Colorado egg market.
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