Egg prices can feel like a rollercoaster—one day, you’re cracking them into your breakfast skillet without a second thought, and the next, you’re wondering if you should take out a loan just to make an omelet. If you’ve been asking, “Why are eggs so expensive?”, you’re not alone.
Over the past few years, the price of eggs has risen due to avian flu outbreaks, rising production costs, and new government regulations. Some areas have it worse than others, with prices swinging by several dollars per dozen depending on where you live.
So, what’s the deal? Let’s break it down.
Why Are Egg Prices So Expensive?
1. Avian Flu and Other Disease Outbreaks
If there’s one thing chickens fear more than the deep fryer, it’s avian flu. When a major outbreak hits, millions of egg-laying hens get culled to prevent the disease from spreading, which means fewer hens and fewer eggs.
Back in 2022–2023, a particularly nasty case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) wiped out nearly 58 million chickens across the U.S. By 2025, the industry is still scrambling to recover. Less supply means higher prices, and no amount of coupon clipping will change that.
2. Higher Costs for Feed, Energy, and Labor
If you think your grocery bill is bad, try feeding thousands of hungry hens every day. Farmers are dealing with:
- Soaring grain prices
- Rising energy costs to keep their operations running
- Labor shortages driving up wages
Since chicken feed makes up 60% of egg production costs, every time grain prices go up, so does the cost of your morning scramble.
Want to see historical trends in egg prices? The USDA’s Egg Market Reports track long-term pricing data. But spoiler alert: prices rarely go back to “the good old days.”
3. New Cage-Free Egg Laws Are Driving Up Prices
Think cage-free means chickens are roaming lush green pastures, stretching their wings in the sunshine, and living their best free-range lives?
Cluck no!
In reality, most cage-free hens are still indoors, just without cages. They’re packed into large barns, jostling for space, sorting out pecking order disputes, and dealing with the same high feed costs as before. Meanwhile, farmers have to spend millions upgrading facilities, and guess who covers that cost? (Hint: Check your grocery receipt.)
Here’s where these laws are in full effect:
- California – Cage-free since 2022 (because of course).
- Colorado – Fully cage-free as of 2025.
- Massachusetts – Requires 1.5 square feet per hen, banning caged production.
- Washington – Implemented cage-free laws in 2024.
- Michigan – All eggs must be cage-free by 2025.
More space for hens means higher costs for farmers, which means higher prices for you. So, while cage-free may sound great in theory, your wallet might not be clucking as happily as the hens.
4. Supply Chain Issues and Transportation Costs
Eggs don’t magically appear on store shelves. Rising fuel prices, trucking shortages, and general supply chain chaos all make it more expensive to get eggs from farms to grocery stores.
If you live in Hawaii or Alaska, brace yourself—since most of your eggs are shipped in, you’re paying some of the highest prices in the country. Maybe it’s time to start a backyard flock?
Are Egg Prices Going Up or Down Right Now?
Egg prices change faster than a hen chasing a bug. Some months they drop slightly, and other months they skyrocket like they’re auditioning for the stock market.
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Will Egg Prices Ever Go Down?
Egg prices do go down occasionally, especially when there’s an oversupply. But let’s be real—between rising feed costs, new regulations, and inflation, we may never see $2 per dozen eggs again.
If you want to stop playing egg-price roulette, raising your own backyard flock is the way to go. Not sure which breed lays the most eggs for the least hassle? Use our Ultimate Chicken Breed Selector Tool to find your perfect feathered workforce.
How to Save Money on Eggs
- Buy in bulk at warehouse stores like Costco or Sam’s Club
- Look for local farms or farmers’ markets for better deals
- Raise your own chickens—nothing beats free-range eggs from your backyard
Coop’s Final Thoughts
Egg prices go up, egg prices go down, and some days, I wonder if humans would be better off just laying their own eggs. But since that’s not happening anytime soon, the next best thing is to take control of your egg supply.
If you’re tired of playing “guess the grocery bill,” raising chickens might be your best bet. Plus, they’re great company—well, unless you have a rooster, in which case, good luck sleeping past sunrise.
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