As bird flu forces farmers to slaughter millions of chickens, reducing the supply of eggs, the national average price for a dozen reached $4.15 in December, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture expects prices to rise a further 20% in 2025. In some regions, egg prices have already more than doubled, and in others, store shelves are simply empty.

Bird flu has forced farmers to slaughter millions of chickens a month, contributing (along with inflation) to the steep price of commercial eggs and resulting in some scantily stocked stores around the country. The scarcity and high prices are causing some to look for a backyard alternative.