Laying hens in the U.S. market: An appraisal of trends from the beginning of the 20th century to present1

SUMMARY: This typescript has been written to provide a brief history of the commercial egg industry and the modern laying hen from the beginning of the 20th century to present. Certainly the hens’ husbandry and production practices will continue to change at the onset of this publication and thereafter. Farmers, egg distribution centers, and commercial egg companies in the U.S. have done an excellent job in keeping eggs affordable and in plentiful supply during the cited 100 yr plus (e.g., 1900 to present) of population growth, urban and suburban growth, and declining egg farmers and producers. Further, as industry efficiency and company consolidation increased, so did hen rearing practice misconceptions among U.S. consumers. The 2010 U.S. Census indicates that 1.6% of the US population is engaged in agriculture production, which feeds the remaining 98.4% of the population. This review highlights over 100 yr of table egg production in the U.S., beginning in 1900 when approximately 25% of the U.S. population was engaged in agriculture production.