Photos: Cage-free eggs

In the last six months, San Diego County egg farmer Frank Hilliker has reduced his flock of hens by half and spent $1 million to overhaul his henhouses. Customers are now paying about 50% more for a dozen eggs from Hilliker’s family business at around $3 a carton.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Eight thousand brown and white hens already roam a new 30-by-165-foot stainless-steel aviary at Frank Hilliker’s San Diego County ranch.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

A white hen takes flight at Hilliker’s ranch.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

A brown hen drinks water at Hilliker’s ranch.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Frank Hilliker said he owns the last remaining egg farm in a formerly agriculturally rich area a half-hour drive from downtown San Diego. Tract homes increasingly encroach on the community.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Hilliker’s ranch in Lakeside, Calif.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Wholesale egg prices are expected to rise up to 40% next year. Above, eggs are inspected at Hilliker’s ranch.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Jason Sanford, left, uses a suction cup machine to load eggs onto a conveyor belt at Hilliker’s ranch.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Jason Sanford uses a suction cup machine to load eggs onto a conveyor belt at Hilliker’s ranch.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The average wholesale cost of a dozen large eggs hit a peak of $2 on Thanksgiving Day -- doubling in price from the start of November before settling this week to about $1.40. Above, a dozen of Hilliker’s eggs.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)