Where Are All the Eggs? And Why Are They So Expensive?

If you consume eggs and live in Colorado, maybe you’re wondering the same thing we are: Where have all the eggs gone?? Local grocery store shelves have been noticeably barren. And when you are able to finally get your hands on some — why the heck are they so expensive?? We did some digging. Here’s what we found 🕵️ 🥚

It’s Not Because of Colorado’s New Cage-Free Egg Law

If you thought the egg shortage and price increase might have something to do with Polis’ proud new bill prohibiting the sale of eggs that don’t meet “cage-free” standards, you weren’t alone. But alas, the timing was merely coincidental. The Colorado Egg Producers organization says farmers have been preparing for the legislative change since the law was initially passed in 2020 — so don’t @ them for the state’s current egg predicament.

So Who or What Can You Blame?

Highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu. Last year, Colorado led the nation in a devastating outbreak of bird flu that infected nearly 2 million local chickens, wiping out much of the state’s egg-laying hen population — ergo the shortage; ergo the steeper costs to transport eggs from other states. In fact, experts predicted the price change as early as last summer.

How Expensive Are Eggs Right Now?

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s daily price report for Jan. 13, the wholesale price of a dozen large white eggs for the region including Colorado ranged from $6.16 to $6.23 — which lines up with the $7-plus pricetags I’m seeing at my local stores. (Count your blessings, the price in Meeker was reported at $13.49 earlier this month 😳)

When Can We Expect Reprieve?

Both finance and agriculture experts say the situation is unpredictable. Egg prices will likely stay up until poultry farmers can recover their flocks — but with new cases of bird flu continuing to roll in, it’s hard to say when that will be. My advice? Buckle up for a long ride and find a friend who owns chickens.