Egg prices are already high, and may get worse.
The average price of twelve A grades Large eggs The US Bureau of Labor Statistics said that the dollar reached $4.15 during the month of December, an increase from $2.51 in December 2023.
Two things are driving prices up: the bird flu outbreak and state laws regarding cage-free eggs.
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Patrick Benfield, a professor and supply chain expert at Syracuse University's College of Management, told Nexstar Media that egg prices could rise as much as 20% before the year is out.
This means that the average price is twelve Large eggs It could reach nearly $5 by the end of 2025, the highest average price ever recorded for a dozen eggs.
Egg prices are expected to rise in the coming months due to the bird flu epidemic. (Istock)
The previous high price for eggs was in January 2023, when the average price for a dozen large eggs was $4.82. But by August 2023, the average price had dropped to $2.04.
Benfield predicted that egg prices could exceed this record in February.
present Bird flu outbreakThe avian influenza virus, technically known as “highly pathogenic avian influenza” (HPAI), has led to a record number of deaths among laying hens, the USDA said in a recent report.
In the last quarter of 2024, more than 20 million egg-laying hens died.
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“Unlike past years, in 2024, all major production systems saw significant losses, including certified organic, cage-free, and certified organic varieties,” the USDA said.
Once bird flu is detected, the farm must cull all birds in the flock. This has had a devastating impact on the egg industry, as it takes about five months for chickens to mature.
Hens begin laying eggs at about five months of age. (Reuters/Mike Blake)
“When a hen is five months old, she can lay about one egg a day,” Benfield said.
He added that there are currently no vaccines or medical treatments against bird flu. The only defense is “biosecurity practices” — keeping chickens safe from wild birds and away from humans, keeping coops covered, and “minimizing large puddles and standing water.”
Benfield hopes that chickens will develop “some kind of natural immunity” to the outbreak, but warned Nexstar that this could take years.
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“We haven't seen that yet and it will take many years for that to happen,” Benfield told Nexstar. “Also, if that happens, we don't know whether this immunity will protect chickens if the bird flu virus mutates.”
Aside from bird flu, many states have laws requiring all eggs sold to be “cage-free,” meaning the birds are not raised in cages. These eggs are usually more expensive than conventional eggs even in the absence of a bird flu outbreak.
An entire flock must be culled if a chicken is found to be infected with bird flu. (Istock)
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While egg expert Lisa Steele told Fox News Digital that Pasture-raised chickens When they produce the “gold standard” of eggs, these birds are at increased risk of disease.
The University of Minnesota website on avian influenza said: “Poultry are infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus from infected waterfowl (ducks and geese) and gulls, which may frequent wetlands on farms. Thus, poultry raised outdoors or with accessible If you go outdoors you are at greater risk of contracting the bird flu virus.”
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“Infected poultry can spread the disease to new flocks through contact with birds, people, manure and equipment. Avian influenza viruses can be present in bird droppings for months, especially under conditions of high humidity and low temperatures,” the University of Minnesota said.
