Why are eggs so expensive?
Did the Chickens go on strike?
If you’ve found yourself staring in disbelief at the price tag on a dozen eggs lately, you’re not alone. The recent surge in egg prices has left consumers wondering if chickens have unionized or if we accidentally switched to buying golden eggs. Unfortunately, the reality is far less whimsical and far more frustrating. A perfect storm of avian flu, supply chain chaos, and rising production costs has turned this breakfast staple into a luxury item. Let’s crack open the situation.
Avian Influenza: The Feathered Apocalypse
Since early 2022, the U.S. has been dealing with a brutal outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also known as bird flu. In response, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ordered the culling of approximately 156 million birds to stop the spread—because, as it turns out, birds aren’t great at social distancing (Coons & Wicker, 2025; USDA, 2024). The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) oversees these efforts, rolling out quarantines and mass cullings as part of their standard disease control playbook (USDA, 2024).
The result? A drastic reduction in egg-laying hens, which—surprise, surprise—led to a massive drop in egg supply. Add in the fact that people still want their omelets, and suddenly, a carton of eggs is priced like a rare artifact (Egg Industry Center, 2024).
But wait, it gets better. The USDA, in a plot twist worthy of a sitcom, recently admitted to mistakenly firing key officials responsible for managing the bird flu response. Realizing the blunder, they’re now scrambling to rehire these experts to get a handle on the situation (Larkin, 2025; CBS News, 2025). Government efficiency at its finest.
Supply Chain Shenanigans
As if the bird flu wasn’t enough, the supply chain has also decided to add to the misery. Major retailers like Costco and Trader Joe’s have put purchase limits on eggs because apparently, we’re living in a world where eggs need rationing (National Retail Federation, 2024). Restaurants are feeling the pinch too, with some adding egg surcharges to their menus—so don’t be shocked if your favorite diner starts treating scrambled eggs like an upsell (Restaurant Business Online, 2024).
The Cost of Doing Egg Business: Why Farmers Are Struggling
Inflation has been hitting everything, and egg production is no exception. Farmers aren’t just dealing with higher costs—they’re facing an uphill battle on multiple fronts, from feed shortages to regulatory changes, making it harder than ever to keep up with demand (American Farm Bureau Federation, 2024).
Feed Prices: The Cost of Keeping Hens Fed
One of the biggest expenses for egg farmers is feed, which makes up about 60-70% of production costs. Over the past couple of years, the price of chicken feed—primarily corn and soybeans—has skyrocketed due to global supply chain issues, droughts, and disruptions in major agricultural exporters like Ukraine (Masunaga, 2015; World Bank, 2024). When feed prices go up, farmers either absorb the cost (which many can’t afford) or pass it on to consumers in the form of higher egg prices (Egg Industry Center, 2024).
Labor Shortages: Fewer Hands, More Work
Like many agricultural sectors, egg farming has been hit hard by labor shortages. Raising chickens, collecting eggs, maintaining facilities, and complying with new regulations require manpower, and with fewer workers available, farms are struggling to keep operations running smoothly. Wages have increased as a result, adding yet another layer of cost to an already expensive industry (USDA, 2024).
Cage-Free Transition: A Costly Mandate
Many states have passed laws requiring farms to transition to cage-free egg production, which, while beneficial for animal welfare, is incredibly costly for farmers. The shift requires new infrastructure—bigger barns, better ventilation, and more space per hen—which means major financial investments. Some farms are struggling to secure the funding to make the switch, and those that have managed to comply have seen production costs rise significantly (National Association of Egg Farmers, 2024).
Fuel and Transportation Costs: More Expensive to Move Eggs
Farmers also rely on affordable fuel and transportation to get their eggs to market, but with diesel prices fluctuating and trucking shortages continuing, transportation costs have added another hit to the bottom line (Department of Transportation, 2024). A carton of eggs doesn’t just magically appear in grocery stores—every step of the journey costs money, from farm to distributor to retailer.
Small Farms Getting Squeezed Out
While large-scale egg producers have more resources to absorb these challenges, smaller farms are feeling the squeeze. Many small and family-run operations are struggling to break even, and some have been forced to shut down altogether. This consolidation of the industry means fewer independent farmers and less competition, which doesn’t help consumers in the long run (American Farm Bureau Federation, 2024).
Government's Role: Trying to Right the Ship
In response to the crisis, the government is taking several steps:
Legislative Support: Senators Chris Coons and Roger Wicker introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at providing financial protection for poultry farmers affected by avian flu outbreaks. This legislation seeks to ensure farmers are compensated for losses incurred during such crises and helps prevent similar large-scale disruptions in the future (Coons & Wicker, 2025).
Rehiring Experts: As mentioned earlier, the USDA is working to rehire the bird flu experts they mistakenly let go, acknowledging the critical role these individuals play in managing and mitigating outbreaks. However, reports indicate that these employees were possibly still within their probationary period, which typically lasts one to two years (Newsweek, 2025; USDA FSIS, 2024). Given that the bird flu crisis began in 2022, it raises the question of whether a long-term solution to this issue was ever seriously prioritized or if these critical roles were undervalued from the start. Additionally, new funding is being allocated to research better containment strategies to avoid drastic culling measures in the future (Larkin, 2025; CBS News, 2025).
Financial Aid and Research Grants: The USDA has allocated funds to compensate farmers for their losses and to support efforts in controlling the spread of the virus. In addition, new grants have been introduced to fund research into more resilient poultry breeds and improved biosecurity measures to better safeguard farms from future outbreaks (USDA, 2024).
Final Thoughts: Will This Egg Crisis Ever End?
So, what’s the solution? Ideally, a mix of better disease control measures, supply chain stabilization, and more resilient production systems. But until then, we’ll either have to fork over a premium for eggs or learn to love flaxseed omelets (spoiler: they’re terrible). Of course, you could raise your own chickens and have fresh eggs by next season! Just know that your first dozen might technically cost you a few hundred bucks in coops, feed, and supplies—but after that, they’re practically free… if you ignore the fact that you now have a flock of tiny, feathered freeloaders demanding food, attention, and occasional therapy sessions.
References
American Farm Bureau Federation. (2024). Economic impact of rising costs in the egg industry. Retrieved from https://www.fb.org
CBS News. (2025). USDA says it is trying to rehire bird flu experts the agency accidentally fired. Retrieved from https://www.cbsnews.com
Coons, C., & Wicker, R. (2025). Senators Coons, Wicker introduce bill to better financially protect poultry growers against avian flu outbreaks. Retrieved from https://www.coons.senate.gov
Department of Transportation. (2024). Fuel price impacts on agriculture. Retrieved from https://www.dot.gov
Egg Industry Center. (2024). Trends in egg production and pricing. Retrieved from https://www.eggindustrycenter.org
Larkin, M. (2025). USDA mishandling of avian flu response. Retrieved from https://www.cbsnews.com
Masunaga, S. (2015). Avian influenza epidemic spurs nationwide rise in egg prices. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com
National Association of Egg Farmers. (2024). Challenges in the transition to cage-free egg production. Retrieved from https://www.naef.org
National Retail Federation. (2024). Egg supply chain disruptions and consumer impact. Retrieved from https://www.nrf.com
Newsweek. (2025). USDA admits mistakenly firing bird flu officials, working to rehire them. Retrieved from https://www.newsweek.com/usda-admits-mistakenly-firing-bird-flu-officials-working-rehire-them-2032992
Restaurant Business Online. (2024). Egg pricing trends and menu adaptations. Retrieved from https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). (2024). Avian flu outbreak response and impact. Retrieved from https://www.usda.gov
U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS). (2024). Probationary periods and federal employment policies. Retrieved from https://www.fsis.usda.gov/policy/fsis-directives/4315.2
World Bank. (2024). Global agricultural commodity trends. Retrieved from https://www.worldbank.org
