Additional bans are planned to come into force between 2023 and 2026. According to the USDA Monthly Report , the number of free-range laying hens (including certified organic chickens) increased by more than 10.5 million chickens in the first 6 months of 2023. As a result, the share of cage-free hens in the total U.S. laying hen population increased from 36 percent in January to 38 percent in June.
A closer look at the USDA data shows that non-organic cage-free flocks account for most of this gain, while organic laying flocks account for a smaller share of the increase.