Bill Maher is not an egg farmer.

It’s true.

I know this may be hard to fathom for some folks, but Bill Maher – the comedian – is really not even close to being an egg farmer. He does, however, want you to think he knows an awful lot about raising egg layer hens, according to an opinion piece he wrote for the New York Times recently that urged Costco to go cage-free with all their eggs.

I read parts of the article out loud to my husband when we were driving out to my parents’ farm a couple of weekends, and I have to tell you, we laughed at the absurdity of Bill Maher telling us what chickens would prefer when it comes to how they are raised.

Do people really believe a celebrity has more knowledge about this than the farmers who raise poultry? Do people really distrust farmers that much? (I hope not.) And if so, where did this level of distrust come from? (I worry about this issue almost daily.)

Rather than regurgitate the tired language of the animal activist groups who want nothing more than to end animal agriculture as we know it, I wish Bill Maher had done a little research and reached out to the folks at the Center for Sustainable Egg Supply, who recently studied several types of layer hen housing to get an honest look at what housing system(s) might be best for the birds.

Yes, that’s right – best for the birds. Not best for Bill Maher or Costco or anyone else – but truly what is best for the birds.

He might be interested to know that there are pros and cons to ALL housing systems.

In his New York Times opinion piece, Mr. Maher advocates for cage-free. Well, guess what – cage-free can mean higher mortality rates for hens, thanks to general meanness and cannibalism. It’s all about the pecking order with chickens – yes, this is how chickens behave, so it stands to reason that having fewer chickens housed together can minimize the issues with the pecking order.

In a recent letter from the National Association of Egg Farmers to Costco, the research is explained this way:

“The Coalition for Sustainable Egg Supply, a cooperative effort of animal scientists investigating the published research concluded recently that different housing systems (cage-free, enhanced colony cages, and the conventional cages used today by nine-five percent of egg farmers) are not significantly different in the stress among the chickens. This compliments earlier findings by The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) in 2010 which released a report on different housing systems.The report concluded consumers need to balance the hen’s freedom against exposure to potential hazards such as disease vectors and the cannibalism caused by pecking. Certainly cannibalism and pecking are welfare issues, and in conventional cages where the number of chickens is minimized, these concerns are reduced compared to the enhanced, colony cages or aviaries. “

Regarding providing safe eggs for consumers, the research shows this:

“In considering food safety, eggs laid on the floor in an aviary system have more pathogenic bacteria from contact with manure. This is virtually eliminated in conventional cages where … the manure falls below the cages and away from the eggs.  The claims that cages are creating health risks from increased incidence of Salmonella is unfounded and illogical.”  

My point here is that there is no black-and-white answer to which housing system is best for chickens. The research (you can read the full report here if you are so inclined) shows there are cons – and most definitely pros, as well, to each system.

I have seen very happy chickens in cages – in very clean barns, mind you – with my own eyes. I also know that chickens in other housing systems – be it enriched colonies or free range or pastured – can and do live good and healthy lives as well. Even more than the production system, the health and well-being of chickens depends on the farmers who are there, 24-7, to do the right thing by their animals.

We need all these housing systems to provide eggs to the consumer marketplace. Some folks can afford to buy organic pastured eggs at the farmer’s market, while others are on a tight budget and need a more affordable option. I personally don’t worry about buying the cheapest conventionally-raised eggs at Target because I know farmers, by and large, are doing the best they can by their birds. No one should be made to feel bad about their egg choices; we are lucky to live in a country where we can make these choices for our families.

Do me a favor, will you? Don’t take Bill Maher’s word for it. He’s not an egg farmer. And frankly, neither am I. But I have a feeling I know many more egg farmers and have been on more egg farms than he has. I won’t tell you what eggs to buy – heck, I just want everyone to buy eggs and enjoy this amazing protein! All I ask is that you do your research and know what you’re buying and why it’s important to you.

And if you have questions, ask a farmer – not a Hollywood comedian.