Egg Industry , To Make Multibillion br Dollar Transition , To Cage-Free .br In response to new laws, the United States' br egg producers are in the midst of a massive br multibillion-dollar shift to cage-free eggs. .br 'Time' reports that the shift dramatically br changes the lives of millions of hens. .br In 2010, just 4 of hens br lived in cage-free housing. .br Ten years later, in 2020, br 28 were cage-free. .br According to 'Time,' that number br is expected to more than double br in the next four years to reach 70. .br The change reportedly represents one of the br biggest successes of the animal welfare br movement's battle against the food industry. .br What we producers failed br to realize early on was that br the people funding all the animal br rights activist groups, they were our br customers. And at the end of the day, br we have to listen to our customers, Marcus Rust, the CEO of Indiana-based Rose Acre Farms, via 'Time'.br 'Time' reports that many companies view the shift to cage-free as good for their brand's image. .br McDonald's, which purchases roughly 2 billion eggs annually, said that the company's gradual shift to cage-free came in response to customers' wishes. .br McDonald's, which purchases roughly 2 billion eggs annually, said that the company's gradual shift to cage-free came in response to customers' wishes. .br In 2015, a Gallup poll showed that almost two thirdsbr of Americans believe that animals deserve br to be protected from exploitation and harm.br According to 'Time,' egg companies in the br U.S. house approximately 325 million hens.