The Disturbing Details Behind the Bird Flu and Egg Prices
Consumers can take a lot, but when you start raising prices on staples like eggs and milk, a definite din begins to rise from the streets.
I knew something was up during a pre-Christmas trip to Costco, where a frenzied mob of shoppers were exasperated after being told, "We're out of eggs. We won't have any more until a truck comes in!"
I paid $7 for a dozen range free eggs today. I buy range free eggs anyway, but the CO legislature, Dem controlled, just enacted a law that all eggs sold in the state must be free range. This going to hit a lot of people doubly hard in the pocketbook.
I was shocked when the lowest price I saw was $9.99 at the store the other day. Even the normal 'cage free' we usually got had shot up in price thanks to a shock to the supply chain, along with a limit on the number to grab. A nice perfect storm of inflation, avian flu, and Democratic brilliance of 'we didn't mean for THAT to happen'.
My WEF endorsed govt banned caged hens so eggs are now in short supply and much more expensive. Different excuse but same outcome. I buy free range anyway but it's time thave my my own hens again.
Wirecutter doesnt link to Gorges Grouse but I would find it occasionally by the other blogs he does link. Real shame as he posted long posts with 100+ cool pictures at times.
Gorges didn't just stop posting, he removed all of the existing posts almost a week ago. With some of the depressed sounding comments he has made fairly recently, I am very concerned. Especially in light of Sgt. Bob.
Last time I went to buy eggs about a month ago, large white were $4.79/dz. Jumbo browns were $2.99 so I bought two. Next week, I bought two more jumbo's as the prices for both kinds were the same. I now have 4 doz jumbo's in the fridge that I haven't touched yet. Still finishing off my last doz large from before the big price hike.
I get my eggs from a friend who has chickens. When I heard about the outrageous prices for eggs I checked them on my last trip to the grocery store. They ranged from 4.86 to 5.02/dz. A lady opened a carton of large to check for cracked eggs and I noticed they looked kind of small so I started checking the cartons. They were all the same size, small/medium, no matter what it said on the carton. All the cartons had the same size eggs in them.
and there wasn't even any avian flu. they made it up. a neighbor raises chickens, more than i have anyway. he had a govt inspector show up one day telling him he'll have to destroy his whole flock b/c of avian flu. he asks the guy when they tested his birds. they hadn't. he doesn't sell meat or eggs so he told them to get fracked, never heard from them again. avian flu my ass.
Nine Billion chickens are slaughtered every year in the United States. Additionally just over 300 million are kept for eggs. Given that the laying life of a chicken is three years, these numbers are a drop in the bucket. What else is behind this? I'm suspicious. For those who are thinking of having birds, buying feed at tractor Supply will set you back. Instead find a local elevator and buy bulk grain. They can grind it for an additional fee. Get some 55 gallon drums to store it and keep the mice out. It will take seven drums to hold a ton of feed. You won't need that much to feed your flock for a year unless you plan on supplying friends and neighbors.
I buy my feed at Tractor Supply. I buy the Purina brand because the hens do not like the store brand as much; I don't see any difference but the hens can taste it. In warm weather, my daily spend is about $1.25 and in cold weather it goes up to around $2.50 a day; these are long term trends over a couple of years of bookkeeping. I am getting 10 eggs a day now and in the summer I expect it will go back up to 12-13 a day. When the molt hits later this winter, the production will go down for a month or so.
During the absolute worst of the pandemic shortages, I was at the Costco checkout and two employees were talking about how the store was out of cereal cream.
One: "We ran out of cereal cream."
Two got this horrified look on her face and said something to the effect of "Oh no, that's really bad for so and so."
One: "I know, that never happened when I was looking after that."
Two: "No kidding, you're still here."
So I got the impression that when a Costco runs out of something, an employee has fucked up really bad.
My Costco had pallets of eggs yesterday, but the price has jumped almost 50% in the last few months. I'm slowly learning (the hard way) that when that happens at Costco, I should just suck it up and buy it anyway because when I go to the place I'm expecting it to be cheaper, it's even worse.
Reading the comments, it sounds like egg shortages aren't so bad in Canada, yet. They're $3.59/dozen (CAD) at Costco for 60, and slightly more at local grocery stores. The hipster eggs (organic free range whatever) are about twice that.
To anyone who was worried about Gorges Smythe of Gorges Grouse Blog,he has posted on his blog again,so he is alive and well.Perhaps leaving a comment there to him will encourage him to continue blogging,- -Mary
I paid $7 for a dozen range free eggs today. I buy range free eggs anyway, but the CO legislature, Dem controlled, just enacted a law that all eggs sold in the state must be free range. This going to hit a lot of people doubly hard in the pocketbook.
ReplyDeleteThat's funny.
DeleteCause I still see long lines at starbucks.
Apparently they don't mind wasting money.
I was shocked when the lowest price I saw was $9.99 at the store the other day. Even the normal 'cage free' we usually got had shot up in price thanks to a shock to the supply chain, along with a limit on the number to grab. A nice perfect storm of inflation, avian flu, and Democratic brilliance of 'we didn't mean for THAT to happen'.
DeleteMy WEF endorsed govt banned caged hens so eggs are now in short supply and much more expensive. Different excuse but same outcome. I buy free range anyway but it's time thave my my own hens again.
ReplyDeleteDo you know what happened to Gorges from Gorges Grouse blogspot?His hasn't put up a new post recently,,I am worried.-Mary
ReplyDeleteNo, I'm sorry but I have no idea.
DeleteHe said he was tired of his hosting service giving him trouble with posting his pics and quit.
DeleteThanks for answering my question,Mary
DeleteWirecutter doesnt link to Gorges Grouse but I would find it occasionally by the other blogs he does link. Real shame as he posted long posts with 100+ cool pictures at times.
DeleteGorges didn't just stop posting, he removed all of the existing posts almost a week ago. With some of the depressed sounding comments he has made fairly recently, I am very concerned. Especially in light of Sgt. Bob.
DeleteMay God help him to see whatsoever is good -so he becomes grateful, and hopefully resumes posting his uplifting messages again. - Mary
DeleteLeast expensive eggs at the store yesterday were $7.65 / dz and they were medium size and only a couple doz on the shelf. I passed.
ReplyDeleteLast time I went to buy eggs about a month ago, large white were $4.79/dz. Jumbo browns were $2.99 so I bought two. Next week, I bought two more jumbo's as the prices for both kinds were the same. I now have 4 doz jumbo's in the fridge that I haven't touched yet. Still finishing off my last doz large from before the big price hike.
ReplyDeleteNemo
ReplyDeleteStill cheaper per pound than ground beef, if not by much anymore.
And much better for you all the way around.
DeleteI get my eggs from a friend who has chickens. When I heard about the outrageous prices for eggs I checked them on my last trip to the grocery store. They ranged from 4.86 to 5.02/dz. A lady opened a carton of large to check for cracked eggs and I noticed they looked kind of small so I started checking the cartons. They were all the same size, small/medium, no matter what it said on the carton. All the cartons had the same size eggs in them.
ReplyDeleteand there wasn't even any avian flu. they made it up. a neighbor raises chickens, more than i have anyway. he had a govt inspector show up one day telling him he'll have to destroy his whole flock b/c of avian flu. he asks the guy when they tested his birds. they hadn't. he doesn't sell meat or eggs so he told them to get fracked, never heard from them again. avian flu my ass.
ReplyDeleteAnd family and friends wonder why I’ve cut back on the free eggs…? Long term storage for now..
ReplyDeleteKlaus
Last night I bought a dozen white large for $7.50. The shelves were stocked full.
ReplyDeleteThere are no egg ranches within 50 miles that I know of. Sucks because now my only source is the grocery store.
Nine Billion chickens are slaughtered every year in the United States. Additionally just over 300 million are kept for eggs. Given that the laying life of a chicken is three years, these numbers are a drop in the bucket.
ReplyDeleteWhat else is behind this? I'm suspicious.
For those who are thinking of having birds, buying feed at tractor Supply will set you back. Instead find a local elevator and buy bulk grain. They can grind it for an additional fee. Get some 55 gallon drums to store it and keep the mice out. It will take seven drums to hold a ton of feed. You won't need that much to feed your flock for a year unless you plan on supplying friends and neighbors.
I buy my feed at Tractor Supply. I buy the Purina brand because the hens do not like the store brand as much; I don't see any difference but the hens can taste it. In warm weather, my daily spend is about $1.25 and in cold weather it goes up to around $2.50 a day; these are long term trends over a couple of years of bookkeeping. I am getting 10 eggs a day now and in the summer I expect it will go back up to 12-13 a day. When the molt hits later this winter, the production will go down for a month or so.
DeleteDuring the absolute worst of the pandemic shortages, I was at the Costco checkout and two employees were talking about how the store was out of cereal cream.
ReplyDeleteOne: "We ran out of cereal cream."
Two got this horrified look on her face and said something to the effect of "Oh no, that's really bad for so and so."
One: "I know, that never happened when I was looking after that."
Two: "No kidding, you're still here."
So I got the impression that when a Costco runs out of something, an employee has fucked up really bad.
My Costco had pallets of eggs yesterday, but the price has jumped almost 50% in the last few months. I'm slowly learning (the hard way) that when that happens at Costco, I should just suck it up and buy it anyway because when I go to the place I'm expecting it to be cheaper, it's even worse.
Reading the comments, it sounds like egg shortages aren't so bad in Canada, yet. They're $3.59/dozen (CAD) at Costco for 60, and slightly more at local grocery stores. The hipster eggs (organic free range whatever) are about twice that.
Here on the seacoast of NH, Lobster is $5.50 a lb. Eggs are $6.00 a dozen. Looks like lobster for breakfast.
ReplyDeleteTo anyone who was worried about Gorges Smythe of Gorges Grouse Blog,he has posted on his blog again,so he is alive and well.Perhaps leaving a comment there to him will encourage him to continue blogging,-
ReplyDelete-Mary