Livestock & Pets

Avian Flu, The Price of Eggs, & Raising Your Own Hens

Pekin Duck Eggs - Raising Ducks for Meat

Will Avian Flu Lead to the End of Cheap Eggs?

I stopped looking at the price of eggs at the grocery store after I brought home my first laying hens. Frankly, I found it rather depressing to see eggs for sale at less than a dollar a dozen. My homegrown, organic eggs cost around $5 per dozen to raise…and cheap eggs remind me of the problems with our government subsidizing big agriculture, the inhumane conditions of industrial egg ‘farms,’ and the destruction of our cropland with increased use of pesticides and fertilizers. Don’t get me on my soap box!

When millions of laying hens had to be destroyed due to avian flu this spring, I wondered how long it would be before the price of eggs and poultry increased. I checked the price of eggs at the grocery store and saw they were holding steady at 93 cents per dozen. That was several weeks ago. Today I read this article from ABC News on May 19th…Egg Prices Jump as Impact of Bird Flu Begins Pinching Supply.

This article was reprinted on Honey Colony.

Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket

Factory farms keep huge numbers of chickens confined in close proximity, causing the disease to spread quickly. Much of the nation’s egg supply comes from Iowa, a state hit hard by the avian flu epidemic. Turkey flocks in Minnesota have also suffered huge losses. Having so much of our food production concentrated in one part of the country has made the industry susceptible to disease, drought, and natural disasters. We’re seeing the effects now with the beginning of price increases on eggs and turkey. So far, the broiler industry has not been affected, but that could change this fall when migratory birds head back to their winter homes in the south. If that happens, we could see increases in broiler prices. Another poultry industry that could be at risk would be hatcheries that raise day-old poultry for mail orders or factory farms.

To make matters worse the disposal of all euthanized birds has become problematic. The process of incinerating the carcasses is time-consuming so many of them may head to landfills. Only one landfill in Iowa was accepting dead birds, but there were some issues with price inflation. You can read more about that in this article. One of my concerns about this disposal option is the infection of wild birds that could feed on carcasses. We could be looking at an ongoing problem if the infected carcasses are not buried quickly to avoid further infection of the wild bird population.

Raise Your Own or Support Local Farmers

Raising your own chickens for eggs and meat is one way to protect yourself from interruptions in your food supply. And you can’t get much more local than your own backyard! You do need to watch for signs of infection in your flock, and take precautions against infection from migratory bird populations. I also can’t promise you cheaper eggs, but you’ll know what your hens eat and how they are raised. With the increase in cost of supermarket eggs, yours might be more comparable until the layer operations recover. You might even have new egg customers. (Check into your local regulations regarding home raised egg sales.)

Many people can’t keep their own hens, however. The next best thing is purchasing eggs from a small local farmer. The price is likely to be higher because small farmers don’t receive subsidies from the federal government. You’ll pay the real price that it costs to raise eggs. But you’ll know where your food comes from and you’ll be supporting small farmers who should be the backbone of our food supply system.

Supporting our local farmers protects our population from food shortages in the long run. And that is good for our country and good for our people. So buy locally produced food when you can and let the politicians know that you do NOT support subsidies for big agriculture!

Have you seen an increase in the cost of eggs and other poultry products? Are you concerned about the safety of our food supply?

7 Comments on “Avian Flu, The Price of Eggs, & Raising Your Own Hens

  1. 1 dollar a dozen? UNBELIEVABLE! I wouldn’t buy one single of these eggs. It’s disgusting. Poor chickens, poor farmers, poor country.This fires backwards, doesn’t it?

    I always buy the most expensive eggs (if I have to buy eggs for school for example) because 1. the hens have a happy life outside. 2. the hens get locally grown and produced food. 3. The food and therefore the eggs are bio labelled (never taste like fish) 4. they are the freshest, you can see where they come from (local), you even know the farmer yourself. I’m more than happy to see that my sons buy the best eggs too. As a consumer you can make a difference.

    1. It really is unbelievable, Regula. And I agree completely with everything you say! There are so many problems with the way business is run in the US…I can’t even begin to tell you. But it all boils down to making the most money for the few people at the top.

      My family buys organic, non-gmo food and we try to buy locally to support the small farmers. But most people are just not aware of the issues. I’m trying to spread the news when I can. Thanks for reading 🙂

  2. Here in California we just passed a law that requires more humane treatment of laying hens, and so most are bracing themselves for higher prices of eggs. So far, the price hasn’t gone up too much, and most of us don’t mind a modest increase in exchange for healthier hens, and hopefully healthier eggs as a result. Luckily we haven’t had the avian flu hit here yet, but hopefully the more humanely treated hens will be able to fend off the disease. We’ll see.

  3. I definitely agree with what you have stated in this article. Just a reminder to those who plan to sell eggs. Be sure to check your state laws concerning their sale. In my state, Washington, it is against the law to sell homegrown eggs without the proper permits and licensing, BUT, you can ask for a donation. I have done this without any problems.

    1. Hi Betsy,
      That’s true, thanks for the reminder for folks who want to sell their extras. It can also depend on your county. In my area, you are allowed to sell eggs directly from your farm, but you aren’t allowed to deliver them unless you have a refrigerator unit for transporting them. In some areas you are required to wash with an egg washer (expensive), label with your name, address and phone number, and the date collected. I’m sure that there are other health dept rules out there too.

  4. Great article, and I’ve shared on my FB. I’ve been paying $8 a dozen for fresh farm eggs for years, and I’m sure that’s probably going up to $10. Quality costs more and I care about what I put in my body. I wish I could raise my own, but for now, I buy from a farmer I trust. – Kaye

    1. Hi Kaye,
      Thank you! I don’t feel so bad about my $5 a dozen eggs now 😉 I’m glad that you are able to get fresh eggs that you feel good about purchasing!

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