Hundreds of cars stood along a busy road in California, waiting to buy fresh eggs – once an affordable, daily ingredient and meal, the poultry product has become scarce.
In addition to the long lines, the national egg shortage has also led to rising prices, because consumers are scrambling to find fresh eggs.
Since 2022, H5N1 – a highly contagious trunk of bird flu – has infected 153 million birds in 48 states, forcing the clearing of millions more the outbreak.
In just the last quarter of 2024, more than 20 million chickens in the egg in the US were lost in the virus, which increased egg prices by 9 percent in January compared to the previous year, according to the Bureau or Labor Statistics.
In the past four weeks alone, prices have risen by 15 percent. And while the average costs for a dozen eggs in the US reached a new highlight of $ 4.95, in California, some shoppers are forced to pay up to $ 10.
'The reason for the egg shortage is very clear. Birds get this flu and they must be agreed as quickly as possible, “Sanjay Sharma, a deputy professor of Finance and Business Economics at the Marshall School of Business of USC, told the La Times.
He noted that in some cases whole herds should be euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease.
California has been struck very hard, because 40 percent of the eggs are produced in the state.
The rural egg shortage, powered by a serious bird flu outbreak that killed more than 21 million chickens, has ensured that prices are rising and led to long lines on local farms
In California, where 40 percent of the eggs are produced locally, prices are mainly high, so that supermarkets such as Trader Joe's and Kroger impose purchase limits
“Everyone likes fresh eggs, so we usually eat the eggs we produce,” Sharma said. “That currently presents a problem.”
As the demand floods, some supermarket chains, including Trader Joe's and Kroger, have implemented purchasing limits to prevent bulk purchases.
However, these limitations can feed the panic of the consumer, similar to the hoarding that is seen with toilet paper during the COVID-19 Pandemie.
“When there is a shortage, people start to hoard,” Sharma said. 'It is a human instinct, but it is a self -destructive cycle. It is absolutely better for everyone if people don't hoard. '
Egg shortages have created an unprecedented demand for local agricultural farms.
Billy's Egg Farm in Chino, California, a family business that has been active for 32 years, has demanded huge customers of customers to buy organic eggs.
Hundreds of cars have set up outside the farm every day, with shares that are usually sold out at 11 hours of aerial photos that improve a drive-Thru window, where they make their purchases.
The Instagram account of the farm has replaced videos of grateful customers, many wait patiently in line.
Billy's Egg Farm in Chino has seen a huge question from the customer, with hundreds of cars that stand in line every day to buy fresh eggs, often sold out at 11 am
Experts warn that hoarding will deteriorate the problem and compare it with the COVID-19 toilet paper panic
Maust's California Poultry, located in Chino, is also bracing for unusually long rows and a crowded parking space.
“So many farms have to euthanize so many birds, and because of the shortage, there is simply no eggs, supply and demand plays in the game, and that is where you see these high prices,” Paul Maust's California Poultry told ABC 7.
In the meantime, some farmers encourage people to consider raising their own chickens.
Michelle Heath, a lifelong farmer in Collinsville, Oklahoma, says it is a way to take control of food security.
“Our food system is sometimes very vulnerable,” Heath told DailyMail.com. “Currently, in Oklahoma, you sometimes look at $ 8 per dozen, and people who have fixed income, or people who have to choose between eggs and bread.”
She also pointed to the grim difference in quality between eggs from your own chickens and eggs purchased in the store.
“If you look at how mass produced by masses are raised, you would never eat another egg that came out of the store,” Heath said. “Those eggs are bleached, they are three to six months old.”
Heath and her family raise 45 to 50 chickens, not only for herself, but to help neighbors and their church community.
Other local farms, such as Maust's California Poultry, also have difficulty keeping up
Although egg prices can ultimately stabilize as soon as the chicken population restores, experts say that the timeline depends on the control of the bird flu outbreak
“We don't need 45 chickens, but to take care of ourselves, our neighbors and our friends and family, those are what we have to do, and we will continue to do it.”
However, picking up chickens is not a quick solution.
“It takes six to eight months before a chicken lays an egg,” Heath warned. “You only get Augustus eggs.”
Farmers such as Billy Mouw at Billy's Egg Farm also feel the pressure.
In conversation with DailyMail.com, he said that the shortage made it harder to find baby chicks, which has increased the costs: “The egg shortage has hit us in a few ways … One is more difficult to find baby chickens.”
However, he is in the quality of his eggs, and says that their 'freshness and quality' makes the price worthwhile.
Despite uncertainty in the market, experts say that egg prices will eventually stabilize as soon as the chicken population recovers and the production returns to normal.
However, that timeline depends on controlling the spread of bird flu and the ability of farmers to rebuild their herds.
“If the next herd is also infected, we need a real systemic solution,” Sharma told the La Times. “I don't think there is one.”
For the time being, experts are urging consumers to stay patient and to prevent panic.
“Egg prices are at a record high and people get pretty nervous,” Dominick Miserandino, Chief Executive of Retailwire, told the La Times. “The simple advice would be, don't panic and do the research.”
