The ongoing avian influenza outbreak has surged again, and in December of 2024, over 20 million egg-laying hens were lost to the disease or as part of culling measures. This decimation of the laying hen population has created an even greater deficit in the supply chain. Now, dairy cows are being found positive for H5N1, the avian influenza strain. This new development may prolong the surge in the virus, and could complicate its control. While active measures are being taken to resolve these concerns, it could take upwards of 9 months for the US economy to recover the flock numbers needed to restore balance in the egg supply chain.

The main culprit behind the rising cost of eggs is avian influenza. This disease has been in circulation since the early 1900s, but goes through periods of dormancy before spiking again. The current spike began in 2021 and has taken a toll on the poultry population all over the world – particularly chickens.

The vast majority of chicken flocks that were lost during the worst of the avian influenza outbreak year were laying hens. This loss reverberated throughout the country, and ultimately, the entire globe. The result, along with rising inflation and cost of feed and fuel, has driven the cost of eggs up exponentially.

Do you remember buying eggs before this spike? For reference, the average cost of a dozen eggs in December 2021 was $1.79. In December of 2022, after the avian influenza spike, the average cost of a dozen eggs in the US was $4.25 – a 238% increase. We’re still seeing similar egg prices now in 2025, with a projected additional 20% increase in the price of eggs over the next 9 months, due to another spike in avian influenza in the winter of 2024. These figures are based on large, grade A (middle ground in the USDA “AA-B” ratings for freshness) eggs. If your family consumes cage free, free-range, or organic eggs, some states are seeing prices closer to $8 per dozen.

“Good” layers are breeds of chickens that are known for their egg-laying skills. Chickens bred for egg production lay between 200-300 eggs per year. There are over 50 breeds of laying hens, but the chicken breeds most known for egg production are:

Ancona

Australorps

Legbars

Orpingtons

Rhode Island Reds

Chickens will lay fewer eggs in the late fall and into the winter due to their annual “molt” (the shedding of old feathers to replenish with thicker, fuller plumage for the colder months), and will also lay fewer eggs as they age. Laying hens will begin producing eggs around 16 weeks of age, and will continue for the next 3-6 years. The first 2 years of a hen’s egg laying career will have the biggest yield, and will decrease each year after.

You can determine a good size flock for your family by considering how many eggs you typically consume, as well as how often you need eggs for recipes such as baking. As a general rule of thumb, you can expect a good laying hen to lay an egg every day and a half. So, to have fresh eggs for breakfast every morning, a family of 4 would need a minimum of 4-6 hens. A flock of that size can easily be kept in a backyard chicken coop – just be sure to check your local chicken laws and guidelines to get permission to keep chickens if necessary.

To answer this question, one major consideration is how much space you have for your chickens and how many eggs you need.

As a mature hen lays about two eggs in three days on average, keeping three to six chickens will ensure you always have a steady supply of eggs for your family. However, if your family really loves eggs or plans to give eggs away occasionally, you may wish to consider expanding your flock.

In general, it’s good to start with at least three chickens – if there’s an unexpected death, you won’t be left with a lonely one. In a breeding flock, a rooster will need four to six hens.

Space requirements of chickens vary depending on the size and breed of the chicks, and how long you are free ranging the chickens during the day. Although it is recommended to have a minimum size of 2-3 square feet per hen, please keep in your mind, the bigger, the better!

Nevertheless, it is important to have an outdoor enclosure, like the Walk In Chicken Run, to keep your chickens safe from predators. Another good defense against unwanted “night visitors” is a chicken coop door. If you come home late in the evening and need an alternative way of closing them safely inside, an Automatic Chicken Coop Door is recommended. With the control panel you can set the automatic door so that it opens and closes the coop at a certain time or based on the rising and setting sun.

The Omlet Autodoor opens horizontally, meaning it cannot simply be lifted up when it is closed by predators, so you and your chickens can sleep peacefully knowing that you have the safest automatic chicken door in the world.

You probably remember the expression, “you are what you eat.” While this idiom is usually said to children in hopes of getting them to eat their veggies, it’s true for chickens too. There are noticeable differences between “regular” eggs and free-range or organic eggs. But what do these differences mean for your family?

Eggs say a lot about a chicken’s health. Healthy, happy hens lay gorgeous eggs, in a rainbow of colors unique to each hen. And, the healthier the hen, the healthier the egg is for you too. Nutrients a chicken takes in through their diet are passed through to their eggs. The darker the egg yolk, the more nutrient-dense it is. If you were to crack two different eggs: one from a regular dozen eggs, and one from a local free-range flock, you would notice the differences right away. Free-range hens lay eggs with a rich orange yolk, and a more opaque egg white. Commercially sourced eggs come from hens fed a diet of pellets containing fillers to bring costs down. The result is an egg that pales (literally) in comparison to those from hens that have access to fresh foods.

Organic eggs are laid by hens that are fed a specific diet. Feed for these chickens must be USDA certified organic, which has strict requirements. Additionally, these hens must be allowed to follow their natural biological rhythm (molting, laying frequencies, etc.) without the aid of hormones or other agents, and be kept cage-free. Because of their diet, the yolks and whites of these eggs will also be richer in appearance.

When you keep a flock of your own, you get to decide how to feed them. Flock-keepers get to determine the overall health and performance of their hens, and can feed them in a way that best suits their lifestyle. Whether you choose to feed organic pellets or let your hens free-range, you should also incorporate chicken-safe fresh fruits and vegetables, seeds, and chicken treats to boost egg production and quality.

The best coop for you depends on how many chickens you intend to keep. Unless you’re restricted by local chicken-keeping laws, always factor in “chicken math” – the phenomenon of ending up with more chickens than you originally planned. Here’s a look at the different sizes of Omlet’s plastic chicken coops:

The Eglu Go or Go Up: 2-3 average-sized hens

The Eglu Cube: 6 large hens, or 8 bantams

The Eglu Pro: 10 large chickens, or 15 bantams

Pair your chicken coop with a customizable Walk In Chicken Run, or with chicken fencing to provide them with expansive, expandable outdoor space.

Depending on where you live, some cities and towns have restrictions and regulations on chicken keeping. For example, the number of chickens that can be kept, the minimum and maximum size of the coop in which the chickens will be housed or a minimum distance to the neighboring property. Some areas prohibit the keeping of roosters due to the extra noise; others require that all chickens be leg-banded for identification purposes.

However, you may also be subject to by-laws, lease conditions or the deeds to your house preventing you from keeping chickens, and there are rules that may apply to back-yard poultry keepers, so be sure to check your local restrictions before buying chickens.

In addition, you might want to consider your neighbors when raising chickens. Although lots of people will be won over with the promise of fresh eggs, it might be a good idea to check with your neighbors first, and assess your backyard to ensure you’ve done all you can to prevent your hens hopping over to their vegetable patch!