Are you thinking about backyard chickens as egg prices soar? Think hard, especially in light of the bird flu outbreak.

Still, a lack of eggs and steep prices may lead consumers to move to other cheap forms of protein, which could lead to consumer-induced shortages and price increases, one expert told USA TODAY. Egg-laying hens and broiler chickens – poultry raised for meat – are different,

For several months now, the United States has been facing a historic rise in egg prices. This daily staple in the kitchen has become a rare and expensive commodity, forcing some retailers to ration sales.

A resurgence of avian flu, which first struck the United States in 2022, is hitting chicken farms hard, sending egg prices soaring and rattling consumers accustomed to buying this dietary