WASHINGTON – Highly pathogenic avian flu has forced chicken farmers to kill millions of egg-laying hens in the United States. With eggs in shorter supply, Midwest grocers suddenly are paying $2.80 a dozen – compared to $1.25 in March. In Iowa alone, 11.2 million laying hens have been euthanized – about one in five. Consumers may be spared some of the price hike hike because grocers typically regard eggs as a loss leader to draw customers. Turkey flocks, also, have been stricken, but the price impact hasn’t yet maxed out through the retail cycle. Wait for Thanksgiving.
Migratory birds
The current strain of avian flu arrived in the northern United States with the spring migration of wild birds. Although the strain is not infectious to humans, there is no stopping the disease among birds. U.S. Agriculture Department protocol calls for killing infected flocks — down to the last bird – to slow the spread. Backyard flocks tend to be most vulnerable. Factory-scale poultry operations have biosecurity. Even so, factory flocks are at high if not slightly lesser risk In the last epidemic in 2015, the U.S. egg and poultry industry was depopulated by 51 million birds.