Why are egg prices so high? What’s the reason everyone’s raising chickens now?
Image Source: 123rf.com
If like me, you and many Americans have noticed that the price of eggs is on the rise again. For 18 eggs in Charlotte, NC I pay nearly $6. I remember when you could buy a dozen of eggs for under $1. I am not surprised that many people are raising their own chickens, including some of my friends. Why are the egg prices so high then? What are the alternatives to eggs? Why Egg Prices are So High
According to the Consumer Price Index, the price of eggs has increased by nearly 38% in a year. Comparing this to the overall 2.4% increase in food prices over the past year, it’s an impressive jump. More recently, it has been hard to find eggs due to the spread of a deadly strain of bird influenza across the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that approximately 128,907392 birds were infected by this strain of flu. The USDA gives a livestock outlook. In a recent report, it was stated that “there were 3,97 million table egg layers depopulated just in November, and the loss of another 2.5 million birds was confirmed in two Merced California flocks during the first week in December.” Also, all the cases of table egg laying chickens dying were in cage-free flocks of California and Arizona. The eggs sold in these two states must be cage-free.
Unfortunately, due to the struggles many chicken farmers are having, prices are going to keep going up. The USDA report stated that “quarterly average prices were adjusted upwards to reflect lower production expectations” for 2025. The first-quarter forecast was increased by 45 cents, to 295 cents a dozen. The second-quarter project was raised 25 cents, to 225 cents a dozen. My friends who live in rural areas of North Carolina decided to raise chickens. The Cost of Raising Chickens and Buying Eggs The average person spends $8.37 per month on eggs at the current price. If you are a regular egg eater, baker or have a big family, the cost could increase. Many people wonder if raising chickens is better than buying eggs. There are several things to think about. You must first take care of your chickens. You may have to deal with their illness or other problems. The Hen House Collection calculated the cost of raising chickens on a monthly basis. You can expect to pay around $69 a month for a flock with five egg layers. This is a lot more than you would spend on two dozen eggs per month.
However your flock is likely to lay more than 2 dozen eggs in a single month. You can sell your eggs through Facebook or in your local community. You can get some money back by doing this. You will be able sell 60 dollars worth of eggs. Your chickens’ laying habits will determine how much you can sell. My friends love being able collect eggs every day. The cost of eggs in the supermarket is not a concern for them, nor are supply chain problems. It’s not worth the effort for me. How do you combat the cost of eggs? Read More
7 Ways to Save Money from Your Salary and Still Enjoy Life
These are the Top 10 Non-Toxic Air Fryer
