Eggs were once a low priced item on most grocery lists, a must have for breakfast enthusiasts and bakers everywhere, but prices as high as $7 a carton have caused some Yoopers to think twice before stocking their carts with this highly nutritious commodity.
If you are thinking about starting your own chicken farm to save money, local farmers and farming experts warn you may be getting into more than you bargained for.
"The price of birds has also gone up," said Michelle Sweeten a livestock and forage educator at EUP Michigan State University Extension (MSUE). "If you get them shipped at a couple days old, it will take anywhere from three to four months before they start laying eggs. That is just a rough estimate. Depending on the breed, it could be six to eight months. An average chicken lays every 30 hours or so. That is about six eggs each week in its prime, which lasts around two to three months before tapering off. My friend Tiffany is paying over $20 per bag of feed."
Tiffany Escherich of Dafter owns and operates Mukwa Ridge Farm.
"We are a small hobby farm that produces jams and we have chickens," said Escherich. "We typically sell to friends and family."
As Sweeten explained, a backyard chicken farm does not necessarily produce the quantity needed to sell to multiple local buyers. Factoring in time and costs, she asked that people take the time to learn what they are getting themselves into.
"Beware that you'll spend hundreds to thousands out-of-pocket before your hens lay their first eggs," Escherich said. "First, you will need to check your city, township, and county ordinances to see if it is legal for you to keep birds on your property. You will need a container to brood chicks in, water, food dishes, and a heat source. You will need to buy chicks. You will need feed, supplements, bedding, and water. You need a chicken coop that's secure and a secure fenced in run space, unless you free range. You need time to pick up supplies, tend, feed, water, and collect eggs. You can't leave your property for more than a day or two, especially in the winter due to water freezing, unless your coop has electricity."
Escherich hopped on her Mukwa Ridge Farm Facebook page this week to update page viewers on current small chicken farm operation costs:
"For transparency purpose, just including non-GMO (genetically modified organism) feed and bedding costs, I can produce a dozen eggs for $3.84. This price doesn't include our time, cost of the coop, cost of new chicks, feeding chicks for 5+ months before their first egg, cost of the original birds and feeding them for 5+ months before their first egg, electricity, etc. I see many people on our local 'rave page' wanting local farmers to do the right thing and sell eggs for only $3. Outlining our costs I think is important for customers to understand the costs. Local farmers are definitely not making record profits like our commercial counterparts."
Both Escherich and Sweeten agreed that purchasing local is one of the best things people can do for their local economies.
"You choose to keep your dollars in your community," Escherich said. "You also choose to not support the unethical treatment of birds, forced to live in these commercial operations. Your support of local farmers creates a more sustainable community. When one farm can't meet a local need, someone else down the road likely can. We have a lot of local producers right here in the EUP who have incredible flexibility with meeting the food needs over such a large geographic area."
What about those people on a low-income budget, relying on state food assistance programs?
Escherich and other small farmers are able to accept electronic benefits transfers (EBT) payments.
"A number of community health programs have gotten active in bridging gap between people with assistance cards and their local vendors," said Escherich. "I can still accept any kind of market vouchers. A lot of self-serve vendors accept vouchers."
Remember, small hobby farms, like Mukwa Ridge Farm, have limited supply.
The best bet is finding someone you know or hitting up larger area farms. Jere Farms of Brimley is a popular example. Visit its Facebook page to learn more.
Most of the blame for the $5 to $7 egg prices seen at local grocery stores is last year's national avian influenza outbreak.
"Avian bird flu hit birds really hard last year," said Sweeten. "Wild birds can bring it to domestic birds. It is highly contagious, especially with layer chickens. About 42,500,000, 14 per cent of chickens, have had to be put down."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), avian influenza is a disease caused and by influenza Type A virus infections in feathery creatures. Wild aquatic birds acquire the infection in their intestines and respiratory tracts, while some species, such as ducks, may never get sick. However, influenza A viruses can sicken and kill certain domesticated bird species, like chickens, ducks, and turkeys.
"Their immune systems are often weaker," Sweeten said. "Domesticated birds typically live close together. Backyard birds are more likely to have wild birds come eat with them."
Sweeten recommended that chicken owners keep a close eye on their backyard flocks. She suggested keeping them away from wild birds as much as possible, while still ensuring access to fresh air. She advised quarantining a sick chicken as soon as any symptoms are noticed.
Infected birds may lack energy and appetite, show sudden decrease in egg production, exhibit swelling, cough or sneeze, have diarrhea, and/or lack coordination. If another animal or human contracts the virus, respiratory symptoms could occur. Typically, these are minor. A laboratory test is needed to make an accurate diagnosis, but results could take days.
Although Sweeten was not aware of anyone local who has reported a bird flu outbreak, its nation-wide spread has decreased overall egg production.
"Once a chicken house has to get rid of its chickens, it takes about six months to raise more and get them going," said Sweeten.
There is also a seasonal issue. Egg laying hens do not lay as many eggs during the dark winter months.
"Bigger chicken houses will mitigate that with lighting, but nature tells hens to stop lying," she said.
But bird flu has not been the only culprit in recently soaring egg prices.
"Add all that to high fuel and feed costs," said Sweeten, referencing post-COVID inflation rates. "Fuel and feed have been much higher over the past several years."
