Talk of The Villages Florida

Talk of The Villages Florida (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/)
-   The Villages, Florida, General Discussion (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/)
-   -   Egg Prices (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/egg-prices-356995/)

Michael G. 03-03-2025 02:44 PM

Egg Prices
 
Bird flue apparently is causing a shortage of eggs and prices are on the raise.

🐓One has to ask: "How does that effect the butchered chicken meat from the hens laying those infected eggs??" 🤢 🐤🐥🐣

If so, why isn't there a shortage of chickens and have the prices gone up?

biggamefish1 03-03-2025 02:59 PM

The butchered meat from hens killed to prevent the spread of bird flu is not sold to the public, for sure.

Stu from NYC 03-03-2025 03:12 PM

Trying to talk my wife into buying some baby chicks and raise them to become egg layers.

Should be able to clean up as long as my wife agrees to do the cleaning.

VAtoFLA 03-03-2025 03:22 PM

Laying hens and Broiler hens are two different industries. Broilers have a much shorter life cycle and are not bred in the same places as laying hens. Laying hens that reach the end of their ability to lay eggs profitably are butchered, but not for the meat you and I eat. Generally for feed and pet food

Rainger99 03-03-2025 03:34 PM

Everything you want to know about eggs and chickens!


Just a moment...

rustyp 03-03-2025 03:50 PM

General Tso's chicken will be a delicacy tomorrow.

asianthree 03-03-2025 04:02 PM

Not a problem, one does not eat the hen that lays the egg, only the chicken that crosses the road, in about 8 weeks.

The only time a hen became Sunday dinner was they were so mean, you killed them to save yourself.

Susan1717 03-04-2025 04:39 AM

That is a good question! Regardless if a hen is raised for eggs or its meat, how can there be a shortage and disease of one and not the other?! And why are ducks and other birds not affected?

SoCalGal 03-04-2025 04:44 AM

I asked my smartest friend, Grok3. Here's what it said.

Bird flu, particularly the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strain H5N1, has indeed disrupted egg supplies in the U.S., leading to shortages and rising prices. However, its impact on butchered chicken meat availability and prices is less pronounced, and there’s a straightforward explanation for this rooted in how the poultry industry operates.

The key distinction lies in the two separate segments of the poultry industry: egg-laying hens (layers) and chickens raised for meat (broilers). These are different birds, bred and managed for distinct purposes. Layers are older hens optimized to produce eggs over a longer lifespan, typically starting at 18-20 weeks and remaining productive for a year or more. Broilers, on the other hand, are younger chickens raised specifically for meat, reaching slaughter weight in just 6-8 weeks. When bird flu strikes, it often hits layer flocks hardest because their longer lifecycles and dense housing in egg production facilities make them more vulnerable to outbreaks. Since 2022, over 157 million birds have been affected in the U.S., with a significant portion being egg-laying hens—over 20 million were culled in the last quarter of 2024 alone. This culling drastically reduces egg supply, driving up prices.

But what happens to the meat from these culled laying hens? Generally, they don’t enter the consumer meat market in large quantities. Laying hens are not bred for meat production; their bodies are leaner and less muscular than broilers, making them less desirable for butchering. When flocks test positive for bird flu, U.S. regulations require rapid culling—often within 24 hours—to contain the virus. The carcasses are typically disposed of through methods like composting, incineration, or burial, not processed for human consumption. Even if some were butchered, the volume would be negligible compared to the broiler industry, which raises about 9.4 billion chickens annually for meat. Moreover, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service ensures that sick or infected birds don’t enter the food supply, and cooking poultry to 165°F kills the virus anyway. Therefore, there's no significant influx of “infected egg hen meat” affecting the chicken meat market.

Why isn’t there a shortage of chicken meat then? Broiler production has been far less impacted by bird flu. USDA data shows that since February 2022, less than 0.0005% of U.S. broiler production has been affected. Broilers’ shorter growth cycle means farmers can replace culled flocks quickly—within weeks—compared to the months it takes to raise new layers and restore egg production. Plus, the industry maintains substantial reserves of frozen chicken in warehouses nationwide, buffering against supply shocks. This resilience explains why chicken meat shortages haven’t materialized despite the bird flu crisis.

As for prices, chicken meat costs have remained relatively stable compared to eggs. Egg prices soared from $2.17 per dozen in January 2022 to over $4 by late 2024—a 135%+ increase—due to the direct loss of layers. Chicken meat prices, however, haven’t seen a comparable spike. Broiler supply disruptions have been minimal, and factors like feed costs, labor, and inflation have a bigger influence on meat prices than bird flu does. Studies from Poultry Science analyzing 2005-2023 data show that while poultry prices (including chicken meat) rise during outbreaks, the effect is less severe and shorter-lived for meat than for eggs. The frozen stockpile and rapid broiler replacement cycle keep supply steady, preventing the scarcity-driven price surge seen with eggs.

To summarize, the bird flu isn’t causing a chicken meat shortage or significant price hikes because broilers are a separate, less-affected population with a faster recovery time and a robust supply chain. The culled laying hens don’t meaningfully contribute to the meat market, and strict safety measures ensure infected birds stay out of your grocery store. You’re not eating “infected egg hen meat”—you’re eating broilers, and there’s still plenty of them to go around.

Dahabs 03-04-2025 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael G. (Post 2413312)
Bird flue apparently is causing a shortage of eggs and prices are on the raise.

🐓One has to ask: "How does that effect the butchered chicken meat from the hens laying those infected eggs??" 🤢 🐤🐥🐣

If so, why isn't there a shortage of chickens and have the prices gone up?

Apparently?

jimkerr 03-04-2025 05:13 AM

People assume they are the same chickens but they’re not.

Katheelee 03-04-2025 06:47 AM

Egg laying chickens are different
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael G. (Post 2413312)
Bird flue apparently is causing a shortage of eggs and prices are on the raise.

🐓One has to ask: "How does that effect the butchered chicken meat from the hens laying those infected eggs??" 🤢 🐤🐥🐣

If so, why isn't there a shortage of chickens and have the prices gone up?

I live in the same town as Rose Acres. They just had to unalive millions of their egg laying chickens. These chickens were hauled by trucks to a property and were buried in layers with dirt over each layer.
Egg laying chickens are fed a disgusting special diet which makes them unsuitable for humans to eat. They are different birds than the chickens we eat.

MandoMan 03-04-2025 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCalGal (Post 2413389)
I asked my smartest friend, Grok3. Here's what it said.

Bird flu, particularly the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strain H5N1, has indeed disrupted egg supplies in the U.S., leading to shortages and rising prices. However, its impact on butchered chicken meat availability and prices is less pronounced, and there’s a straightforward explanation for this rooted in how the poultry industry operates.

The key distinction lies in the two separate segments of the poultry industry: egg-laying hens (layers) and chickens raised for meat (broilers). These are different birds, bred and managed for distinct purposes. Layers are older hens optimized to produce eggs over a longer lifespan, typically starting at 18-20 weeks and remaining productive for a year or more. Broilers, on the other hand, are younger chickens raised specifically for meat, reaching slaughter weight in just 6-8 weeks. When bird flu strikes, it often hits layer flocks hardest because their longer lifecycles and dense housing in egg production facilities make them more vulnerable to outbreaks. Since 2022, over 157 million birds have been affected in the U.S., with a significant portion being egg-laying hens—over 20 million were culled in the last quarter of 2024 alone. This culling drastically reduces egg supply, driving up prices.

But what happens to the meat from these culled laying hens? Generally, they don’t enter the consumer meat market in large quantities. Laying hens are not bred for meat production; their bodies are leaner and less muscular than broilers, making them less desirable for butchering. When flocks test positive for bird flu, U.S. regulations require rapid culling—often within 24 hours—to contain the virus. The carcasses are typically disposed of through methods like composting, incineration, or burial, not processed for human consumption. Even if some were butchered, the volume would be negligible compared to the broiler industry, which raises about 9.4 billion chickens annually for meat. Moreover, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service ensures that sick or infected birds don’t enter the food supply, and cooking poultry to 165°F kills the virus anyway. Therefore, there's no significant influx of “infected egg hen meat” affecting the chicken meat market.

Why isn’t there a shortage of chicken meat then? Broiler production has been far less impacted by bird flu. USDA data shows that since February 2022, less than 0.0005% of U.S. broiler production has been affected. Broilers’ shorter growth cycle means farmers can replace culled flocks quickly—within weeks—compared to the months it takes to raise new layers and restore egg production. Plus, the industry maintains substantial reserves of frozen chicken in warehouses nationwide, buffering against supply shocks. This resilience explains why chicken meat shortages haven’t materialized despite the bird flu crisis.

As for prices, chicken meat costs have remained relatively stable compared to eggs. Egg prices soared from $2.17 per dozen in January 2022 to over $4 by late 2024—a 135%+ increase—due to the direct loss of layers. Chicken meat prices, however, haven’t seen a comparable spike. Broiler supply disruptions have been minimal, and factors like feed costs, labor, and inflation have a bigger influence on meat prices than bird flu does. Studies from Poultry Science analyzing 2005-2023 data show that while poultry prices (including chicken meat) rise during outbreaks, the effect is less severe and shorter-lived for meat than for eggs. The frozen stockpile and rapid broiler replacement cycle keep supply steady, preventing the scarcity-driven price surge seen with eggs.

To summarize, the bird flu isn’t causing a chicken meat shortage or significant price hikes because broilers are a separate, less-affected population with a faster recovery time and a robust supply chain. The culled laying hens don’t meaningfully contribute to the meat market, and strict safety measures ensure infected birds stay out of your grocery store. You’re not eating “infected egg hen meat”—you’re eating broilers, and there’s still plenty of them to go around.

But don’t these broiler chickens also come from over five billion eggs? Perhaps the prices there will eventually go up, too. Or perhaps a lot of this is the gg distribution industry selling eggs for whatever the market will bear and keeping the profits. A culled flock of chickens affects the company owning that flock, but the company carries insurance for that. Just part of the cost of doing business. But that shouldn’t raise the costs of unaffected flocks. So the price is going up because the supply has gone down while the demand has remained the same. So they raise prices because they can get away with it because there is a convenient illness to blame.

crash 03-04-2025 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael G. (Post 2413312)
Bird flue apparently is causing a shortage of eggs and prices are on the raise.

🐓One has to ask: "How does that effect the butchered chicken meat from the hens laying those infected eggs??" 🤢 🐤🐥🐣

If so, why isn't there a shortage of chickens and have the prices gone up?

We don’t eat egg laying chickens those are different birds. It takes 6-8 weeks to raise a chicken to its slaughtering weight which is around 3 lbs. thus no time to catch the flu.

Bill14564 03-04-2025 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crash (Post 2413417)
We don’t eat egg laying chickens those are different birds. It takes 2 years or less to raise a chicken to it’s slaughtering weight which is around 3 lbs.

It takes less that 2 MONTHS to raise a chicken to its slaughtering weight.

crash 03-04-2025 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katheelee (Post 2413408)
I live in the same town as Rose Acres. They just had to unalive millions of their egg laying chickens. These chickens were hauled by trucks to a property and were buried in layers with dirt over each layer.
Egg laying chickens are fed a disgusting special diet which makes them unsuitable for humans to eat. They are different birds than the chickens we eat.

It is not what the egg laying chickens eat that we don’t eat them but their age they can lay for 10 years and are tough. These would be stewing chickens in most countries slow cook to tenderize can you say coc ay vin.

Places like Kentucky fried chicken spec their chickens to be 2.25-2.75 lbs because they buy by the pound and sell by the piece. Maybe you have noticed the small pieces.

roscoguy 03-04-2025 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCalGal (Post 2413389)
I asked my smartest friend, Grok3. Here's what it said.

Egg prices soared from $2.17 per dozen in January 2022 to over $4 by late 2024—a 135%+ increase—due to the direct loss of layers.

Grok3 sure has a lot of interesting info, but isn't great at math. A 135%+ percent increase above $2.17 would be over $5, not $4.

TJ SoBos 03-04-2025 07:45 AM

Bought a dozen extra large at Summerfield Walmart, yesterday......$6.12 !!!

Bill14564 03-04-2025 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roscoguy (Post 2413422)
Grok3 sure has a lot of interesting info, but isn't great at math. A 135%+ percent increase above $2.17 would be over $5, not $4.

Well, over $5 *is* over $4.

AI doesn't really do math, it just strings together words that sound correct and seem to answer the question. The three facts ($2.17, 135%+, over $4) are individually correct and even the sentence combining all three is technically correct but there was no math involved.

G.R.I.T.S. 03-04-2025 07:57 AM

I’ve asked the same thing. Why aren’t roosters getting avian flu? 🧐

coconutmama 03-04-2025 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Susan1717 (Post 2413388)
That is a good question! Regardless if a hen is raised for eggs or its meat, how can there be a shortage and disease of one and not the other?! And why are ducks and other birds not affected?

They are. Some may “just” be carriers of the disease.

Bird flu is also not only in the U.S., which makes me wonder how much eggs would cost if imported.

In 2022 when I was in London, the ravens were kept in their pens with tarps over the tops, in an effort to keep wild bird feces from infecting the flock

La lamy 03-04-2025 08:06 AM

Good question and good explanations. Thanks!

Rickmartin 03-04-2025 08:07 AM

Egg prices
 
1 Attachment(s)
Actually bird flu eggs are safe to eat if cooked. About the only way you would contract bird flu from an infected bird is if it flew in your mouth or you ingested an infected birds droppings.

Bill14564 03-04-2025 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G.R.I.T.S. (Post 2413437)
I’ve asked the same thing. Why aren’t roosters getting avian flu? 🧐

What makes you think they are not?

If you are asking why the price of chicken hasn't gone up, that answer can be found a few times in the previous posts.

GATORBILL66 03-04-2025 08:20 AM

Biden ordered billions of chickens to be killed!

Bill14564 03-04-2025 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GATORBILL66 (Post 2413453)
Biden ordered billions of chickens to be killed!

I heard it was TRILLIONS!!

airstreamingypsy 03-04-2025 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Susan1717 (Post 2413388)
That is a good question! Regardless if a hen is raised for eggs or its meat, how can there be a shortage and disease of one and not the other?! And why are ducks and other birds not affected?

One duck farm on Long Island, had to unalive 100,000 plus ducks. They are affected.

LonnyP 03-04-2025 08:36 AM

But the prices were gonna go down day #1?

Stu from NYC 03-04-2025 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LonnyP (Post 2413461)
But the prices were gonna go down day #1?

When the supply increases, not going to happen in a day will it.

Pballer 03-04-2025 09:46 AM

The government plans to address the problem by increasing imports of eggs from foreign countries. Our largest foreign source of eggs is Canada. I'm sure that Canada is eager to bend over backwards to accommodate us.

RRGuyNJ 03-04-2025 09:50 AM

Chicken Breast in NC
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCalGal (Post 2413389)
I asked my smartest friend, Grok3. Here's what it said.

Bird flu, particularly the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strain H5N1, has indeed disrupted egg supplies in the U.S., leading to shortages and rising prices. However, its impact on butchered chicken meat availability and prices is less pronounced, and there’s a straightforward explanation for this rooted in how the poultry industry operates.

The key distinction lies in the two separate segments of the poultry industry: egg-laying hens (layers) and chickens raised for meat (broilers). These are different birds, bred and managed for distinct purposes. Layers are older hens optimized to produce eggs over a longer lifespan, typically starting at 18-20 weeks and remaining productive for a year or more. Broilers, on the other hand, are younger chickens raised specifically for meat, reaching slaughter weight in just 6-8 weeks. When bird flu strikes, it often hits layer flocks hardest because their longer lifecycles and dense housing in egg production facilities make them more vulnerable to outbreaks. Since 2022, over 157 million birds have been affected in the U.S., with a significant portion being egg-laying hens—over 20 million were culled in the last quarter of 2024 alone. This culling drastically reduces egg supply, driving up prices.

But what happens to the meat from these culled laying hens? Generally, they don’t enter the consumer meat market in large quantities. Laying hens are not bred for meat production; their bodies are leaner and less muscular than broilers, making them less desirable for butchering. When flocks test positive for bird flu, U.S. regulations require rapid culling—often within 24 hours—to contain the virus. The carcasses are typically disposed of through methods like composting, incineration, or burial, not processed for human consumption. Even if some were butchered, the volume would be negligible compared to the broiler industry, which raises about 9.4 billion chickens annually for meat. Moreover, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service ensures that sick or infected birds don’t enter the food supply, and cooking poultry to 165°F kills the virus anyway. Therefore, there's no significant influx of “infected egg hen meat” affecting the chicken meat market.

Why isn’t there a shortage of chicken meat then? Broiler production has been far less impacted by bird flu. USDA data shows that since February 2022, less than 0.0005% of U.S. broiler production has been affected. Broilers’ shorter growth cycle means farmers can replace culled flocks quickly—within weeks—compared to the months it takes to raise new layers and restore egg production. Plus, the industry maintains substantial reserves of frozen chicken in warehouses nationwide, buffering against supply shocks. This resilience explains why chicken meat shortages haven’t materialized despite the bird flu crisis.

As for prices, chicken meat costs have remained relatively stable compared to eggs. Egg prices soared from $2.17 per dozen in January 2022 to over $4 by late 2024—a 135%+ increase—due to the direct loss of layers. Chicken meat prices, however, haven’t seen a comparable spike. Broiler supply disruptions have been minimal, and factors like feed costs, labor, and inflation have a bigger influence on meat prices than bird flu does. Studies from Poultry Science analyzing 2005-2023 data show that while poultry prices (including chicken meat) rise during outbreaks, the effect is less severe and shorter-lived for meat than for eggs. The frozen stockpile and rapid broiler replacement cycle keep supply steady, preventing the scarcity-driven price surge seen with eggs.

To summarize, the bird flu isn’t causing a chicken meat shortage or significant price hikes because broilers are a separate, less-affected population with a faster recovery time and a robust supply chain. The culled laying hens don’t meaningfully contribute to the meat market, and strict safety measures ensure infected birds stay out of your grocery store. You’re not eating “infected egg hen meat”—you’re eating broilers, and there’s still plenty of them to go around.

Prices of chicken breast in NC has almost doubled since this whole thing started. Currently $3.69 per lb vs $1.99 avg last year. Chicken breast from Sams Club is $2.79. We're not that desperate, yet. The last batch we got from there was terrible. I have a feeling they are steroid rich birds.

Lottoguy 03-04-2025 09:50 AM

As of today 3/4/25 egg prices will be the least of your worries.

Topspinmo 03-04-2025 09:54 AM

Long life question which came first the chicken or egg? Less laying chickens results in less eggs. I wills be surprised if bird flu not man made failure and another plague for mankind. Seems like biological/chemical warfare does more harm when there no wars?

Topspinmo 03-04-2025 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lottoguy (Post 2413483)
As of today 3/4/25 egg prices will be the least of your worries.

Why? Have to go to doctor? Or is meteor about to hit?

TheWatcher 03-04-2025 10:09 AM

Poultry farm Biosecurity
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Susan1717 (Post 2413388)
That is a good question! Regardless if a hen is raised for eggs or its meat, how can there be a shortage and disease of one and not the other?!

The Broiler chickens have shorter life-span to market than the Layer chickens. So less exposure time in completely different facilities.

The Broilers are housed in what is essentually a P3 Lab like facility (they call it 'Biosecurity'). Workers 'scrub' in (shower and change clothes)and wear containment outerwear. May be required to do the same leaving. HEPA filtration is used. A poultry farm near us up north has their access roads marked and blocked with cones to prevent unauthorized access. Genetics plays a part.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Susan1717 (Post 2413388)
And why are ducks and other birds not affected?

But, they are. And they are spreading it, too. The problem here is how the disease(s) spreads and transmission to other nonavian species. For example, so far there are isolated cases reported from cows (positive virus testing of milk). The milk before pasturization has infected human dairy farm workers by direct contact as conjunctivitis. The virus does not affect other species the same. But the virus has not acquired the ability for widespread infectivity in other species. Read that as higher morbidity and mortality.

Bill14564 03-04-2025 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RRGuyNJ (Post 2413482)
Prices of chicken breast in NC has almost doubled since this whole thing started. Currently $3.69 per lb vs $1.99 avg last year. Chicken breast from Sams Club is $2.79. We're not that desperate, yet. The last batch we got from there was terrible. I have a feeling they are steroid rich birds.

Highly questionable number for last year when the average price in the US was around $4/lb.

UNLESS, NC is a major producer of chickens and production was affected by the hurricane last year. That might have eliminated an artificially-low price.

jimjamuser 03-04-2025 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Susan1717 (Post 2413388)
That is a good question! Regardless if a hen is raised for eggs or its meat, how can there be a shortage and disease of one and not the other?! And why are ducks and other birds not affected?

Wild birds especially aquatic birds like storks, geese, and duck ARE infected with bird flu. So, maybe people should not feed them.

fdpaq0580 03-04-2025 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Topspinmo (Post 2413484)
Long life question which came first the chicken or egg? Less laying chickens results in less eggs. I wills be surprised if bird flu not man made failure and another plague for mankind. Seems like biological/chemical warfare does more harm when there no wars?

Egg came first! Without a doubt!

fdpaq0580 03-04-2025 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill14564 (Post 2413455)
I heard it was TRILLIONS!!

He was tired of hearing all the clucking. Turned out it was just tinnitus. 😒

fdpaq0580 03-04-2025 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pballer (Post 2413480)
The government plans to address the problem by increasing imports of eggs from foreign countries. Our largest foreign source of eggs is Canada. I'm sure that Canada is eager to bend over backwards to accommodate us.

Well, they certainly don't want to bend over foreword!!


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:56 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.32 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2025 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.