Skyrocketing egg prices fuel desire for backyard chicken operations

The poultry industry as well as private flocks are suffering a health crisis as a bird flu continues to spread across the United States, contributing to a spike in egg prices. Almost 60 million birds have been infected in the worst outbreak on record.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images

San Antonio Express-News
Chuck Blount
January 25, 2023 

As a kid, one of my weekly chores was to pick up at least a shift or two of going to the hen house to load up a basket of eggs for my grandmother, who used the money she got for them as a country side hustler on the farm. While she could work the hen coop, which had dozens of egg layers within it, I still remember the warm eggs that I pulled from the lay house. There was even a day when I reached my hand in what I thought was a chicken, only to discover that it was a napping opossum. It was the best of times, and that was the worst of times, but there was no lack of access to fresh eggs.

In a world of increasing "shortages," eggs are being talked about now as the hot commodity after an outbreak of bird flu that has killed an estimated 60 million birds, according to the Centers of Disease Control. This has led to massive price increases that have resulted in eggs costing an extra $1 or more per dozen, with a carton now costing $4 to $9 based on whether the eggs are organic, cage-free or free-range. The shortage has increased demand for backyard farmers to raise flocks for their own supplies of those ovals of goodness.

Now San Antonio loves its breakfast tacos, and so far, most restaurants have been reluctant to raise their price points, and if they have, they have done it modestly. For example, Cholula's, a Mexican restaurant near the airport, raised its breakfast window for tacos by about 50 cents for three, while Agave Grill just a few blocks down the road on Broadway has kept its prices the same.

"Everybody loves breakfast tacos in San Antonio, and I did hear about the egg prices going up, but it's still a good deal to get full in the morning for $6," said Richard Castillo, who was dining on a chorizo and egg and a bacon and egg at Cholula's. "I would imagine the biggest hit would be on the restaurant that uses a lot of eggs."

In the grocery aisles, a dozen eggs still don't cost much, if any, more than what you would have to pay for Castillo's taco plate. But there is an undeniable urge to get your own from a backyard flock. However, raising said flock comes with lots of learning experiences that need to be addressed. Here are some things to consider before starting your own:

Chicken selection

Within the San Antonio city limits, citizens are allowed to keep up to eight egg-laying birds without any sort of permit. If you live outside of it, that range can increase in size based on the land and the time you have to spend on egg harvesting. The good news is that chick season has just begun at area feed stores, with fresh chicks of various breeds that will be delivered throughout February and March.

Keep in mind though that it can take as long as 20 weeks for said chicks to grow up enough to produce that first egg, so it's not like a quick fix for your bank account. Online trading sites and other options allow the purchase of hens that are already laying eggs though, and can be a sound solution. Also, roosters have a way of making the hens a little more comfortable, but they are not needed. They are as loud as a bugle and will do everything in their power to wake you up at 6 a.m.

Predation

There are lots of predators in the area that love to both eat and kill chickens simply because they can. Coyotes, bobcats, snakes, dogs, cats and oddly enough, birds of prey and raccoons will do everything in their will to get to them. That hexagonal thin in the hardware store called "chicken wire" is no good. It's too thin and everything outside of the birds can sneak into the cage and feed on the flock. Instead, choose fencing that is sturdy enough to hold on from any good bite.

There are some serious stories with backyard slaughters, so this is one reason why there should be a little emotional balance in order. Giving your chickens names like Lady Blue or Jumping Joyce could lead to an overnight family tragedy. Chickens also like to fight one another, so if you see one missing more and more feathers with each day, consider putting it in an area of solitary confinement or the bully bird into chicken noodle soup.  

Animal husbandry

Like dogs and cats, chickens require a tremendous amount of upkeep. You can go with the permanent coop space, but it won't take long for the birds to pick everything inside of it down to the dirt. Every blade of grass will eventually be eaten or scratched away, because the chickens get bored, as you would if your only music option was an artist that you loathe. And we have to talk about poop ... chickens do a lot of it, so prepare for plenty of cleaning hours in your weekly schedule.

There are several building plans that are called "tractor coops" built on wheels that allow your birds access to new areas of the yard. And if the chickens are well trained, you can even let them out of the coop and they will return to any area where they know that fresh water and food are available and sleep for the night. This does increase the risk of the predation though.

Yield

Expect to get an egg out of each chicken that comes of age every day or two, and they should produce that yield for up to four years or so. This is where the economic value adds up, because six egg layers can provide about 40 eggs per week. You may have so many, you will beg your neighbors and friends to give them away.

Eggspectations

Overall, you absolutely must know what you are getting into with your flock. Vacations will be harder to coordinate (hopefully you have friends who can check in on them), because backyard chickens require daily attention. There is no shortage of online resources for tips and tricks to running a smooth operation. If you are do it right, any egg shortage won't be in your vocabulary, and you may even have so much, you can make a few bucks selling your unused eggs to a friend, just like my granny did.