If you’ve been to the grocery store lately, you might have noticed something strange – the egg shelves are looking pretty bare. And when you do find eggs, the prices might make you do a double-take. You’re not alone in this experience. Shoppers across the country are facing the same situation, as a widespread bird flu outbreak has caused a major disruption in egg supplies. What’s really going on with our eggs, and why is it so hard to find them?
Bird flu hits US egg farms hard
The main reason behind the empty egg shelves is a dangerous strain of bird flu that’s been wreaking havoc across the country. This isn’t just any regular flu – it’s a highly contagious version called H5N1 that’s been spreading like wildfire through bird populations. Since January 2022, this virus has infected more than 136 million birds across all 50 states, making it one of the worst outbreaks we’ve seen.
The impact on egg-laying hens has been particularly severe. In just the last few months of 2024, about 20 million egg-laying hens were lost to the virus. When bird flu is detected in a flock, farmers have no choice but to remove all the birds to prevent further spread. This means entire farms have had to start from scratch, and it’s not a quick process to get back up and running. It takes around 19-20 weeks for new hens to start laying eggs, which explains why we can’t just snap our fingers and fix this shortage overnight.
Your grocery bill might shock you
The numbers tell a pretty striking story about egg prices. As of January 2025, you’re looking at paying around $4.95 for a dozen eggs. Think about that for a minute – back in 1980, eggs cost just 88 cents per dozen. That’s quite a jump! And unfortunately, things might get even pricier. The Department of Agriculture is predicting egg prices will go up by another 20% this year, while other food prices are only expected to rise by about 2.2%.
December 2024 really showed us how bad things were getting, with prices hitting $4.15 for a dozen large grade-A eggs. That was up from $3.65 in November and represented a huge 36% increase from the year before. Even if some politicians are saying prices will come down soon, the reality is that we’re dealing with a complex situation that won’t resolve itself quickly.
Store limits on egg purchases
Many stores have started putting limits on how many eggs you can buy at once. This isn’t because they’re trying to be difficult – it’s to make sure everyone has a fair chance at getting some eggs. Trader Joe’s has set a nationwide limit of one dozen eggs per customer per day. Other big stores like Whole Foods, Costco, Lidl, and Kroger are doing similar things, usually letting people buy between two and three dozen eggs at a time.
These limits are happening all across the country, but some areas are having a tougher time than others. California, Michigan, and Colorado are seeing some of the worst shortages. Colorado’s situation is extra complicated because they’ve got a new law requiring all eggs to be cage-free by 2025, which is making things even more challenging for egg producers.
Different types of eggs affected differently
Not all eggs are equally affected by this shortage. According to recent data, conventional caged eggs have taken the biggest hit, with a 71% loss in production. Cage-free eggs have seen a 29% drop, while organic eggs have only experienced a tiny 0.1% reduction. This might explain why you’re seeing different availability depending on what type of eggs you usually buy.
The Midwest region, which is usually America’s egg basket, has actually seen an 8% increase in large shell egg stocks. But this good news hasn’t helped much with the nationwide shortage, as eastern U.S. markets are still struggling with low supplies and high prices. This shows how complex our egg supply system is and how problems in one area can affect prices everywhere.
Impact on restaurants and bakeries
It’s not just home cooks feeling the pinch – restaurants and bakeries are really struggling with these egg problems. Some places have had to add extra charges of 50 cents or more per egg to their menu prices. Others have had to make tough decisions about their breakfast service, with some even having to stop serving breakfast altogether because they can’t get enough eggs at prices that make sense for their business.
Local bakeries are especially affected since eggs are crucial for so many baked goods. They’re facing a tough choice: raise their prices, change their recipes, or take certain items off the menu. Some have started experimenting with egg alternatives, while others are simply making smaller batches of egg-heavy items like quiche or custard-based desserts.
Supply chain challenges add to the problem
While bird flu is the main culprit behind the egg shortage, other factors are making things worse. There’s a shortage of truck drivers to transport eggs, which means higher shipping costs. When eggs do make it to stores, they’re often more expensive because of these increased transportation costs. The problem isn’t just about having enough eggs – it’s also about getting them where they need to go.
Some states are also dealing with new regulations that affect egg production. For example, Colorado’s new law requiring all eggs to be cage-free by 2025 has forced many farmers to change their operations, which has temporarily reduced production while they adapt to the new requirements. These kinds of changes, while maybe better in the long run, are contributing to our current shortage.
Recovery timeline remains uncertain
Everyone wants to know when things will get back to normal, but there’s no easy answer. Experts say it could take up to six months just to stabilize the supply chain. This isn’t just about waiting for the bird flu to go away – it’s about giving farmers time to rebuild their flocks and get new hens laying eggs again. Remember, it takes about 19-20 weeks for new hens to start producing eggs.
The good news is that farmers have gotten better at dealing with bird flu outbreaks. They’ve learned from experience and can now respond more quickly when there’s an outbreak. But even with this improved response time, we’re still looking at a significant wait before egg supplies and prices return to what we’d consider normal levels.
Ways stores are handling the shortage
Grocery stores are trying different strategies to deal with the egg shortage. Some are offering special deals on eggs as loss leaders to get people into their stores, making up the difference by charging more for other items. Others are working with multiple suppliers instead of just one, trying to keep at least some eggs on their shelves. Many stores have also started putting up signs explaining the situation to customers, helping them understand why they might not find their usual egg options.
Some retailers are getting creative with their egg displays, spreading out what stock they have to make shelves look fuller, or rearranging their refrigerated sections to hide empty spaces. They’re also being more flexible about what brands and types of eggs they stock, sometimes bringing in eggs from suppliers they wouldn’t normally work with, just to keep some options available for customers.
The egg shortage of 2025 is more than just an inconvenience – it’s a wake-up call about how fragile our food supply can be. While we wait for the situation to improve, we’re all learning to be more flexible with our shopping and cooking habits. The best we can do is stay informed about what’s happening and be patient as farmers and suppliers work to get things back to normal.
