PETA Investigation Reveals Crowded Conditions at Lakeside Egg Farm

On September 10, 2026, PETA released footage that thrust the quiet, family‑owned Hilliker’s Ranch Fresh Eggs Inc. into the spotlight. Located in Lakeside, California, the farm has been operated by the same family since 1942 and now houses no fewer than 10,000 hens in each of its three metal sheds, according to the animal‑rights group’s recordings.

The video shows that each bird is allotted just over one square foot of usable floor space—the minimum required by California law. The shed floors are so low that a worker can barely see them, tapping a gate repeatedly to move through the crowd. When questioned, a farm employee admitted the hens “do look kind of packed in there,” yet insisted they had “plenty of room.” He also noted that Hilliker’s plans to add two more sheds, each with the same density of 10,000 hens.

Several welfare concerns common in high‑density, cage‑free systems appear in the footage. Hens are seen fighting—a behavior the worker described as “normal.” While still chicks, their beak tips were trimmed or burned off, a practice the employee said was performed to prevent injuries from pecking. The birds also struggled to move or spread their wings, and one attempted to fly onto an elevated meal shelf before falling back into the flock.

A leading farmed‑animal‑welfare expert reviewed the footage and described the building as “overstocked” and noted that there are “too many hens” in it.

California’s egg‑production laws, enacted through Proposition 2 (2008), AB 1437 (2010), and Proposition 12 (2022), require that hens be confined in a manner that allows them to turn around freely, lie down, stand up, and fully extend their limbs. The laws set a minimum space of one square foot per hen for cage‑free operations. Hilliker’s Ranch, however, operates at that minimum and does not provide the additional space that many animal‑welfare advocates argue is necessary for healthy behavior.

The farm’s eggs are sold under the Hilliker’s brand at Albertsons stores around San Diego. The packaging lists the eggs as “cage‑free,” a label that consumers often associate with better welfare. The PETA investigation suggests that the “cage‑free” claim may be misleading, given the crowded conditions observed.

The investigation has prompted calls for Albertsons to reconsider its relationship with Hilliker’s Ranch and to stop selling eggs marketed as cage‑free. No official response from Albertsons or Hilliker’s Ranch has been released as of this writing.

The findings add to a growing body of evidence that cage‑free systems can still involve significant animal stress and injury. While the California laws set a baseline for space, the PETA report indicates that many farms, including Hilliker’s Ranch, operate at that baseline without providing the additional room that could reduce fighting, beak trimming, and respiratory disease.

The investigation underscores the need for consumers to scrutinize labeling and for retailers to verify that products meet the welfare standards they advertise. Until further action is taken by the farm, its distributors, or state regulators, the crowded conditions at the Lakeside facility will likely continue to raise concerns among animal‑welfare advocates and informed shoppers.