Backyard Chicken Keeping Could Cost More Than Buying Store Eggs Experts Say
Many Americans are exploring the idea of raising backyard chickens to cope with soaring egg prices. However, poultry experts caution that this solution might cost more than it saves.
Dr. Tom Tabler, poultry extension specialist at the University of Tennessee, stated that raising chickens can be expensive and slow to yield eggs. “A chicken is not going to lay eggs till she becomes sexually mature, and that's going to be - depending on what breed of chicken that is - that's going to be somewhere between about 19 weeks of age and 24 weeks of age,” he explained.
Raising baby chicks requires months of care and investment in shelter, feed, and health maintenance before they begin laying eggs. Even buying adult chickens demands careful sourcing from disease-free, certified sellers under the National Poultry Improvement Plan.
The persistence of highly pathogenic avian influenza has driven egg prices up significantly. Since 2022, about 168 million birds have died, including nearly 100 million egg-laying hens. Losses were especially severe from late 2024 to early 2025, hitting supply during key baking seasons.
"I really don't expect egg prices to seriously come down until maybe next year at the earliest," Tabler mentioned, emphasizing that rebuilding flocks takes time.
There is still no available vaccine against bird flu, though several companies are working on one. Until then, isolation, minimal human interaction, and strict cleanliness remain critical for protecting flocks.
Overall, while backyard chickens can offer personal satisfaction, they are not a reliable way to cut egg expenses in the near future, experts affirm.