Americans grappling with egg shortage take chickens home to roost

A Houston poultry supply company is selling chickens like there is no tomorrow, as sky-high prices for eggs prompt some Americans to raise their own hens at home.

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HOUSTON, Texas -

A US outbreak of bird flu since early 2024 is exacting a heavy toll on poultry farms. More than 21 million egg-laying hens have been "depopulated" in 2025 so far, after 13.2 million were culled in December 2024, according to the US Department of Agriculture.

Eggs, as a result, are a precious commodity these days.

Mr John Berry, who manages a livestock company in Houston, reported a dramatic increase in demand for chickens as consumers grapple with the egg shortage.

"Our sales for poultry have doubled or maybe potentially tripled. I mean, we're selling 100 chickens a week or more," Mr Berry told AFP.

In times of egg abundance, it would take two or three weeks to sell that many birds, he said.

A dozen premium eggs can now cost an eye-popping US$10 (S$13.50) in some US supermarkets, with even lower-grade ones drawing twice their usual price of between US$2 and US$3.

The popular grocery store chain Trader Joe's is limiting purchases to a dozen eggs of any kind per household per day, and Costco is also limiting purchases.