Summary
Egg producers blame the bird flu outbreak for record-high prices, but critics argue dominant companies are exploiting supply shortages to boost profits.
With over 166 million birds culled and egg layers significantly reduced, prices surged from under $2 to nearly $5 per dozen.
Egg supply is down only 4% from last year, yet profits have surged. Cal-Maine Foods, supplying 20% of U.S. eggs, reported a $219 million profit in the last quarter, compared to just $1.2 million before the outbreak, a 18,150% increase.
Lawmakers and advocacy groups are calling for a government investigation into potential monopolistic practices.
A DIY chicken coop is starting to look like a goldmine. It would pay for itself in a month or two. If you can repurpose some skids / pallets you can build one really cheap. Chicken feed doesn’t cost much.
Every person I’ve ever talked to who’s done this has said they regretted it.
Chickens are notoriously delicate.
Most people who think on doing this and succeed really love chickens and have a good way with understanding animals and the value of a life. It’s not for everyone
People have to understand that if the price is too high, they can just not buy it.
It is as simple as that. As long as you buy, it is not too expensive. Just stop eating eggs.
What you’re saying is true in fact, but I feel like you’re letting the price gougers off the hook a little. Eggs are popular because they’re versatile, nutritionally dense and traditionally cheap. Eggs are almost the best breakfast kids can have before school because they help with focus and keep them full. There really isn’t a replacement at the same price point. I don’t think we should expect them to be so cheap that we rely on animal cruelty, but they shouldn’t be a luxury item either.
EDIT: to clarify, it’s the protein and fat that help with focus and fullness, not eggs specifically.
There really isn’t a replacement at the same price point.
Oatmeal, but I guess some kids are picky about eating goo 😅
Oatmeal has far less protein and vitamins, more calories, hundreds of times more carbs, etc.
They are correct. Oatmeal is not a replacement in terms of nutrition at that price point.
Half a cup of dry oats has 5g of protein and 1 egg has 6.3g of protein. The difference isn’t huge, and since we’re talking about price then it should be noted $5 will get you only a dozen eggs but can also get you 30 servings of Quaker oats.
No argument that it has carbs, but it also has fiber and kids rarely get enough of that.
It isn’t a bad substitute. Plus you can add fruit and nuts! You’re just being picky.
I don’t know if you realize this but when you say “you’re being picky” about food in contexts such as this it can be considered ableist, and also dismissive and inconsiderate in my opinion. I prefer oatmeal to eggs but if someone told me I was “being picky” because of a choice I made because of price, sensory experience, and energy cost, I would be offended. I wouldn’t say this every time the word is used but the context and your username make me think it is appropriate and you might be receptive to the feedback.
I mentioned “picky eaters” because I used to consider myself one, but that was before I was medicated for my anxiety. Now that I think about it I myself had a lot of AFRID symptoms as a child and still experience some anxiety if certain foods touch on my plate or if I bite something and experience the “wrong” texture, but since being medicated my palette of acceptable foods has expanded a lot? I guess I never really made the connection to that maybe being connected to neurodivergence.
I guess I had blinders on about this. Thanks for pointing this out.
And I think my nephew is the same way and I’m going to stop teasing him about it. It’s not okay even if I was the same.
Great job at the end there commenting on something that isn’t what I said. I should have known better than to bother replying to you.
Considering where egg prices were, and that being the root of the discussion, the cost comparison is irrelevant and worthless.
You should also be comparing a cooked cup of oatmeal to two eggs.
And I’ll go ahead and stop there.
I thought we were talking about oats being a substitute for eggs under the current price regime, where prices were didn’t seem relevant? Also, I just compared 1 serving to 1 serving. Why not compare 1 cup of dry oats to two eggs if you’re just going to freestyle your breakfast? I only mentioned fruit and nuts because those are things you don’t really add to eggs, and can help picky eaters.
Oh no, when supply dwindles and the demand keeps up or increases, prices increase as well
As economic and market analysis predict it!
Color me surprised
