High egg prices lead people to start buying chickens: Why are eggs so expensive?
As egg prices continue to skyrocket, people are starting to buy chickens to help fulfill their grocery needs.
However, managers and farmers say you may not be saving money by trying to do it yourself.
In December, the average nationwide price for a dozen eggs was $4.15. The U.S. Agriculture Department expected prices to rise another 20% this year.
ORLANDO, Fla. - As egg prices continue to skyrocket across the United States, people are beginning to buy chickens to get their eggs.
However, managers and farmers say you may not be saving money by trying to do it yourself.
By the numbers
Egg prices have risen nearly 37% in 12 months, and the Consumer Price Index shows egg prices are up 36.8% from this time last year.
In December, the average nationwide price for a dozen eggs was $4.15, an almost $2 increase from the $2.51 per dozen in December 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The U.S. Agriculture Department expects prices to rise another 20% this year.
The backstory
One of the largest reasons for the increase in egg prices is the recent bird flu outbreak.
As of Jan. 6, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 66 human cases of H5N1 bird flu in the United States since 2024 and 67 since 2022.
On Jan. 6, the CDC also reported the first person in the U.S. to have died as a result of an H5 infection.
Outside the U.S., more than 950 cases of H5N1 bird flu have been reported to the World Health Organization, according to the CDC, and about half of those have resulted in death.
What they're saying
The high egg prices have led some shoppers to take a more DIY approach.
"Earlier today, I bought my friend two chicks just because of the cost of egg prices!" said shopper Liz Hazlewood.
Palmer's Feed & Seed is one of the stores selling live chicks.
The store sells the chicks, and also fresh eggs, every morning at $8 a dozen. Lately, they said they've been selling out of eggs in less than an hour.
"Nine a.m. we open; we sell out by 10 a.m.," said Nathan Allen, a Palmer's manager.
The staff at Palmer's said before the egg prices started rising, they were selling between 50 and 100 chicks a week. Now, they are selling about 200 a week.
"Yeah, we've been selling a ton of chickens, baby chicks," Allen said. "Interest in baby chicks has gone way up. It's like it was in 2020 during COVID."
Emily Bonilla and her husband, Mel Lopez, also have sold eggs from their Orange County home through their company called El Huevon.
They have been selling theirs at $5 per dozen, and they also said they've been selling out daily.
"Supplying eggs to clients and customers who want the fresh eggs," Lopez said. "They want the clean farm eggs, and on top of that, we're not raising our prices like everybody else is doing."
Dig deeper
People who want to buy and raise chickens should also be aware of the local laws and regulations about owning them.
Owners say the cost of buying and raising chickens cancels out any savings from the free eggs, with an initial investment of around $200 and about $50 a month for food and supplies.
Bonilla said these birds also need a lot of special care and equipment.
"So, for anyone getting into it, make sure it's really something you want to do," she said. "It does take a lot of commitment to take care of them and the space, as well."
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The Source
This story was written based on information shared by the United States Agriculture Department, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization.
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