More home-bred hens to stock up on eggs in the face of high egg prices

Egg prices have not stopped rising in recent weeks. The average cost of a dozen was about $8.07 last week, according to data from the Department of Agriculture.

A dozen has come to exceed $10 for premium versions, and $6 for the most basic in some supermarkets, more than double its usual price. The situation comes as the recent outbreak of avian flu, which first hit the country in 2022, has hit hard on large poultry farms.

More than 21 million laying hens have been culled this year due to the disease, according to data released by the Department of Agriculture. In December, 13.2 million suffered the same fate.

Faced with the situation, more and more people are deciding to raise chickens at home. According to AFP, a farm animal business in Houston recently sold 100 hens in four days, a figure it usually reaches in three weeks.

"Our sales for poultry have doubled or maybe tripled. I mean we're selling 100 chickens a week or more. People are realising that raising chickens at home might be a good way to get fresh eggs without paying high prices at the store," says John Berry, 43, manager of Wabash, where they also sell poultry feed.

Berry explains that most of his new customers are just starting out in poultry farming. This is the case of Arturo Becerra, who recently bought 10 hens, for which he paid $400. On one month's feed he spent $20.

In several Texas cities it is permitted to raise poultry in the backyard, in compliance with sanitary standards.

"Now I have some place to put them, and besides, eggs are very expensive. I think it will be cheaper to buy hens and raise them," says the 57-year-old Mexican-born man, a Houston resident.

For his part, President Trump said Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins will do something about rising egg prices across the country. He also blamed Biden for the crisis.

"She’s going to do something with the eggs. We inherited all the problems," Trump said according News Nation.