OMAH, Nebraska — The ongoing bird flu crisis is leading to the culling of millions of chickens each month, significantly impacting U.S. egg prices, which have now more than doubled since summer 2023. With Easter approaching, the situation shows little sign of improvement and demand continues to rise.
As of December, the average price for a dozen eggs reached $4.15 nationwide, though this figure is still lower than the record high of $4.82 recorded two years ago. Given current market conditions, the Agriculture Department projects an additional price increase of approximately 20% throughout the year.
In various areas across the country, some consumers are paying over twice the average price or facing empty shelves at their local grocery stores. Prices for organic and cage-free eggs are even higher, prompting some retailers to impose limits on the quantity of eggs customers can buy.
“It feels like robbery,” lamented Sage Mills from Minneapolis, who purchased eggs recently for a birthday cake. “Eggs used to be a staple in our household, but at these prices, we might as well eat out instead.”
The primary driver for these soaring prices is the bird flu outbreak that began in 2022. When the virus is detected on a poultry farm, the entire flock is typically culled to curtail its spread. This becomes particularly problematic for large egg production farms, which can house over a million chickens, as just a few reported cases can initiate a significant supply crunch.
The aftermath of such culls is also prolonged, as the process of disposing of carcasses, disinfecting facilities, and reintroducing new birds spans several months. Since the outbreak began, over 145 million birds, including chickens and turkeys, have been slaughtered, with the majority being egg-laying hens.
Compounding the situation are cage-free egg regulations in ten states, which have contributed to supply issues and rising prices. These laws require various stocking densities for laying hens, and they are already in effect in states like California, Massachusetts, and Oregon. For instance, at a Target store in Chicago, a dozen conventional eggs was priced at $4.49, while cage-free options reached $6.19.
The difficulty in controlling the virus stems from its spread primarily via wild birds, such as ducks and geese during migration periods. Though bird flu can be lethal to multiple species, carriers often remain asymptomatic, allowing the virus to mutate and flourish. The virus spreads through fecal matter, interaction between domestic and wild birds, and can even hitch a ride into farms on people’s footwear or vehicles.
Unlike past outbreaks that dissipated in warmer months, the current strain remains virulent. In March 2022, the virus found a new host among dairy cattle, allowing it further opportunities to persist and spread, complicating control efforts as these animals are rarely culled when infected due to their high survival rates from bird flu.
Since last March, more than sixty individuals have contracted the virus, and one person has died. Most affected were individuals who worked around sick animals, though health officials have not identified any instances of human-to-human transmission.
In response to the ongoing threat, farmers have adopted numerous biosecurity measures to safeguard their flocks. Measures such as disinfecting vehicles, requiring workers to shower and change clothes, and utilizing separate tools for different barns are common practices on poultry farms. Some farmers even deploy lasers to deter wild birds from landing on their properties.
When cattle show symptoms of illness, dairy farmers isolate them and conduct further testing, especially if there’s a nearby outbreak, while government agencies monitor milk for safety. While effective vaccines may be available in the future, practical challenges prevent mass vaccination of chickens, as trade barriers could arise with countries refusing to import meat from vaccinated birds.
The financial implications of the outbreak have been substantial, but quantifying the costs of enhanced biosecurity measures, barn sealing, and worker safety improvements remains difficult. “My small turkey farm has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on biosecurity over the last five years,” stated Loren Brey, a farmer from Minnesota. “The time and effort required daily for biosecurity also add up.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has allocated at least $1.14 billion to compensate farmers for the birds that have been culled due to the outbreak. Additional funding, estimated at over $576 million, has been directed towards the department’s own response efforts.
The poultry and dairy industries, particularly turkey, milk, and chicken, have all felt the pressure from the bird flu crisis. Mike Vickers, who manages a supermarket in Minneapolis, noted his inability to stock organic or cage-free eggs, forcing him to sell only large or jumbo eggs instead. He empathizes with customers’ frustrations.
“This is the first time I’ve felt embarrassed about egg prices,” Vickers expressed. “We pay $7.45 for a dozen eggs and sell them at $7.59, bringing in only $0.14 in profit. That hardly covers our expenses.”
