WattAgNet: Hickman’s Family Farms adding 2 cage-free egg facilities

Written September 10, 2015
Cage-free operations in Arizona will include 2 million hens

Hickman’s Family Farms is planning an expansion project that includes two new cage-free egg operations. The cage-free facilities will include 2 million hens and be located at Hickman’s locations in Tonopah and Arlington, both in Arizona.

 “Cage free is just the next logical step in providing eggs to our markets and comfort for our hens,” CEO Glenn Hickman said. “Our customers are moving to cage-free faster than the regulatory environment is requiring it, so we want to ensure abundant supplies. It’s the future of our industry and our business.” 

Billy Hickman, vice president of operations for the family enterprise, added: “The science and technology of the new aviary systems allows us to continue to offer the highest quality eggs produced in state of the art facilities.  Our children and grandchildren will be proud to continue the family tradition of producing eggs for consumers in the Southwest.”

The company made the announcement on September 10, one day after McDonald’s revealed that it would transition into only selling eggs that have been produced in cage-free operations at its nearly 16,000 restaurant locations in the United States and Canada.

Hickman’s Family Farms, according to the WATTAgNet Top Poultry Companies Database, is the largest egg company west of the Rocky Mountains and is the 11th largest egg company in the United States.