A catastrophic bird flu outbreak has forced Hickman's Eggs—the Southwest’s largest egg producer—to halt most operations for two years after losing more than 6 million birds to the avian influenza virus. This egg industry crisis underscores the vulnerability of industrial animal agriculture to disease outbreaks.

Now, Animal Outlook, a major animal rights organization, is publicly calling on Hickman's Family Farms to transition out of animal agriculture into “more sustainable, ethical, and innovative practices.” The move comes amid growing consumer interest in plant-based egg alternatives and cruelty-free foods.

Animal Outlook’s Executive Director, Ben Williamson, says this is a wake-up call to end what he describes as a cruel and unsustainable industry:

"This is great news for chickens! A two-year shutdown of Hickman's Eggs represents a victory for the hens who would have been crammed into the company’s imposing sheds and reduced to egg-producing machines, and for the millions of male chicks who would have been ground up alive or suffocated simply for being born the wrong sex in an industry that has no use for them."

Williamson added:

“We urge Hickman’s to use this time to consider a transition away from animal agriculture… Plant-based egg alternatives are rapidly gaining popularity and offer a viable path forward—one that aligns with consumer demand for cruelty-free, environmentally friendly products. At Animal Outlook, we stand ready to support farmers and companies in making this transition. The closure of Hickman's Eggs isn't just a business disruption—it's a chance to build a food system that doesn't depend on cruelty to animals.”

Hickman's Family Farms is invited to comment and respond to these calls for change. UnchainedTV has reached out seeking comment.

Joining UnchainedTV’s Truth Files with journalist Jane Velez-Mitchell are Animal Outlook’s Ben Williamson and Our Honor’s Dr. Crystal Heath, a veterinarian and animal welfare advocate who is leading efforts to end cruel mass animal killing practices during disease outbreaks.

This unprecedented shutdown could accelerate the momentum toward sustainable, plant-based egg replacements and spark a larger conversation about the future of industrial egg production.