Don’t Fear the Bird Flu When Dyeing Easter Eggs
Dyeing eggs as part of the Easter celebration goes back at least as far as the Middle Ages, and perhaps earlier. Some 47 percent of Americans are, however, planning to forego this happy ritual this season, according to a survey by WalletHub. Why? Because eggs cost too damned much.
The rising per capita demand for eggs has contributed to higher prices for chicken ova, but the recent steep increase largely stems from outbreaks of H5N1 bird flu virus among commercial egg-laying flocks since 2022. The virus kills nearly 100 percent of infected domestic fowl. Once an infection is detected, the entire flock is culled to limit the spread of the virus. Since 2022, over 168 million chickens, ducks, and turkeys have been killed. Outbreaks have been detected among wild birds and commercial and backyard flocks in 681 counties in all 50 states.
Three years ago, before wild migratory birds began spreading the virus to domestic poultry, the wholesale price of eggs was just over $1 per dozen. That soared to over $8 per dozen in February 2025 but has since dropped to a little over $3 per dozen now. The shortage has abated somewhat as, despite the Trump administration’s mad tariff shenanigans, the U.S. has imported eggs from Turkey, Brazil, and South Korea. Also, bird flu infections have recently receded a bit, allowing commercial producers to replenish their egg-laying flocks.
In an effort to boost egg supplies, some s
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