The flock to backyard chicken farming
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One way to deal with the egg shortage: get your own chickens.
Why it matters: Egg prices are sky high as the bird flu crisis ravages the nation's supply of eggs.
- More than 23.5 million birds nationally — and 26,000 birds in commercial flocks in North Carolina — have been affected in the last 30 days alone, pushing egg prices to a record $4.95 per dozen in January.
The big picture: As egg prices have climbed in recent years, so have the number of backyard chickens.
- 11 million U.S. households have backyard chickens and 8 million U.S. households consider their chickens pets, making chickens one of the most popular pets in the country, according to the latest data from the American Pet Products Association., Axios' Carly Mallenbaum writes.
- That's close to double the number of households with backyard chickens in 2018 (5.8 million), according to APPA data.
State of play: 2025 is already shaping up to be a big year for backyard chickens (as was 2020), according to Jenn Tompkins, co-owner of Rent The Chicken, which will deliver chickens, a coop and other supplies needed for a six-month rental directly to your backyard.
The intrigue: If you're not quite sure about the longterm commitment of owning chickens, renting could be a good option.
- Rent the Chicken offers delivery in dozens of metros across the country, including Raleigh and Durham, and is taking reservations now for rentals to start in April or May.
- Cost for a six-month rental of two chickens plus materials starts at $495, for a maximum of 14 eggs a week. (Not exactly the best cost-saving strategy.)
Threat level: Mike Martin, North Carolina's state veterinarian, said it's important that people with backyard chickens practice basic biosecurity measures with the bird flu spreading.
- "This virus hasn't gone away [in wild birds] for three years," Martin told Axios. "We need people to be constantly aware and retake to heart biosecurity principles and say, 'This is an everyday thing.'"
- Here are 10 tips for keeping your flock biosecure.
Lucille's thought bubble: My husband bought three chicks in January 2023 — mostly against my will — from Little Birdie Hatchery in Wake Forest.
- We spent several hundred dollars in the first few months (the most expensive part was building a coop), but since then, keeping chickens has been relatively cheap and easy, and I've grown to love having them.
Go deeper: People flock to backyard chickens as egg prices spike