Actually, here in the Black Hills, they are still just under $7/dozen, at least on Sunday last. But we hear of skyrocketing prices across the country.
A correspondent has shared part of the answer to the question: Mass Destruction of Livestock Backfiring with Greater Zoonotic H5N1 Spread
Our TPOL correspondent expresses his doubts about both the motives of the cullers and their sanity, and adds: ” Instead, we, the not-so-rich, can’t afford eggs. Take reparations out of cullers’ assets, most definitely also including their retirement accounts!”
The story reports 100 million chickens (laying hens) wiped out early in 2024. It is probably nearer 200 million “culled” now, nationwide.
Because Colorado (source of eggs at least for Safeway stores in the Hills) outlawing caged egg-laying, causing many egg producers to go out of business and raising costs enormously, eggs are sky-high even in the Dakotas, Wyoming and Montana. And even so, sometimes shelves are bare: the supply is limited.
But this smells like a repeat of the Beer Flu Pandemic Panic in so many ways, does it not? We have all the panicked news stories about bird (not beer) flu and stories (and rumors) of bird-to-human and egg-to-human and even human-to-human transmission. Familiar, anyone?
Gain-of-function “research” is claimed to be one of the reasons for the spread, through wild mallard ducks. We see that government agencies’ mixture of malevolence and bumbling incompetence are all here.
Why? Perhaps with the clear objectives of population control in multiple ways? And once again, the standard operating procedures (SOP) as followed for decades are shown to be of little utility (for their stated purposes). And indeed, not supported by real research or demonstrated results. We point out that these SOPs are generally dictated – often mandated – by government agencies.
Knowledgable (and honest) people recognize that we Americans (and everyone else) can not trust the CDC, and that such as been the case for decades. We must also recognize that many (indeed, virtually ALL) government agencies can not be trusted to tell us the truth. To act in our behalf. To be rational. That particularly is now obvious when we come to the US Department of Agriculture and its agencies and organizations. (Obvious to more and more people, that is.)
All of this points to even more rot within the various feral agencies than even all but the most outrageous of conspiracy theorists have feared. Bluntly, whatever enabling act or charter or mission statement says should be totally ignored. Their real missions are whatever politicians and the deep state powerful bureaucrats have
But other than the general objectives of more power and control, more wealth, and satanic allegiance, what are the motives? And what are their specific goals? On what timetable? (We know, we expect miracles or mindreading!)
However, the major item of concern is not their objectives, but rather how to deal with the fallout from these matters. How to get eggs (and many other items) at an affordable price, and how to anticipate what is next to happen. And also, combat the inevitable efforts on the part of politicians, public health and other bureaucrats, and the medical system from trying to force yet another vaccine on Americans.
TPOL suggests the answer is to stop trusting government, stop accepting the power of government over our lives, and taking back power for ourselves. Not in unions or parties or even companies, but as individuals. Grasping decision making power in our hands – and accepting the burden of responsibility for our actions.
Based on technology, and on what we know are socially and morally worthy actions and activities? We should see eggs selling for 2-3 cents each, or 25 to 35 cents a dozen. Together with thousands of other food products. With open markets and opportunities available to offer a better product for a better price. But all of these problems can be laid in part on the head of governments: taxes, regulations, laws, abuses and corruption. The rest, sadly, can be laid at the feet of ordinary people who surrender their liberties for the sake of a nonexistent security, who refuse to take responsibility, and who are fearful and so easily brainwashed.
The Price of Liberty 
I paid 9.00 for a dozen yesterday of Vital Farm eggs.
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As Nathan mentioned in his reply to Tom Knapp, the price varies across the States, but is insane right now. And like so many other things, faint hope that anything will change (and certainly not quickly) with the change in regimes on Monday.
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“However, the major item of concern is not their objectives, but rather how to deal with the fallout from these matters…
TPOL suggests the answer is to stop trusting government, stop accepting the power of government over our lives, and taking back power for ourselves.”
Very much so. At core of virtually every internet disagreement is that we have been conditioned to blame each other rather than the real malefactor. For example, “both” sides of the Beer Flu squabble were hoping, and probably even praying for the deaths of those on the other side, when the rational thing to do is look at the actions of evil men calling themselves “government”.
And as fallen people many find themselves unable to resist the temptation to do as those evil men direct. Which, I’m sure, makes The Enemy chortle with glee.
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And a key tactic of politicians and government goons at all times. A point we’ll expand on in the commentary for 20 January!
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I don’t keep close track of egg prices (I don’t do most of the household grocery shopping), so I had to go check my local prices here in Florida: $4.17 per dozen for regular large white eggs, $6.43 for large brown organic cage-free.
I’ll be glad when we get a place where we can just keep a few hens around.
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Tom, we are glad to hear that down in Florida! In the Black Hills, the price is $7.99 a dozen and $9.99 for a dozen and a half, for the regular large white. The organic and brown were not even available at the local supermarkets yesterday. As recently as a year ago, a dozen were selling for $1.99 (sale price, admittedly, but still…)
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That seems insane to me. With a population density of only 30 people per square mile, you’d think there’d be lots of Black Hills homesteads with their own chickens, producing their own eggs and selling surplus in price competition with the stores.
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You’ll be surprised. There are some ranchers and some rural residents who do so, but on a very small scale. In part this is due to FDA regulations and cost of complying with them – if you get beyond a certain size. (Think about “raw milk” problems.) The Black Hills don’t even have any commercial-scale dairies, either: local cooperatives and privately-owned dairies were driven out of business several decades ago by large corporations who (among other things) could afford to comply with FDA regulations: Dairy farmers pretty much abandoned the profession and raise beef cattle.
A lack of experience and encouragement is also a factor.
But an indirect factor is why the Black Hills population density is so low: much of the Black Hills is Federal land, and the same is the case for the Plains around them – including tribally-owned land under FedGov trust. And much of the private land in the plains is in large ranches: the average ranch/farm size in South Dakota is 1,495 acres and in Wyoming is 2,726 acres. So most people don’t live in truly rural conditions: cities, towns, and subdivisions instead. With rainfall/snow less than 20 inches/year. And some cities actually also have bad, virtually-prohibitive regulations for having chickens. And of course, much of the privately owned land in the Hills was originally mining claims, and not homesteads: often as small as 10 acres rather than the standard 160-acre homesteads, and not good ag land: forested, steep slopes, and lots of rock outcrops. So not really good to grow corn or wheat for feeding poultry. We only know of four local families that have chickens and eggs, and only two of those sell eggs to other folks.
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Wow — that’s pretty sad. I’m personally looking forward to having chickens again. I used to have them, but the landlord’s rules prevented me from building a very good coop/enclosure setup, and raccoons kept getting them. When we buy a place further out in the country, I’ll spend the money to build a nice, secure enclosure and keep enough hens to keep us in eggs. When I HAVE them that way, we tend to use more of them, because we do more home cooking and less pre-made/fast-food stuff. Especially when we also have a little garden to keep up in tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, etc.
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Understand and agree with you. We plan to do the same beginning this year (and warm weather to get started). We have enough room and no problem with covenants. As you said, it encourages better eating and better gardening. Since we don’t travel as much anymore and always have a family member or two nearby to care for them, it is the way to go.
A lot of Western counties are hard hit by the FedGov ownership: for example, Montezuma County, the far SW county is Colorado, is 2,000 square miles. But 700 of that is part of the Ute Mountain Indian Reservation, and the tribal farming, ranching, and tourist companies control it. Of the remaining 1,300 square miles, the Feds own another 800 acres: US Forest Service, National Park Service (Mesa Verde), Bureau of Land Management (including Canyon of the Ancients National Monument), and Bureau of Reclamation (McPhee Reservoir). Of the remaining 500 square miles, the State of Colorado owns about 30 square miles, towns take up about 10 square miles, and rural subdivisions another 20 or so. 410 square miles (actually only about 360 when you take away roads and public lakes and such) are farms and ranches. The county has about 30,000 people, of whom 1,000 or less live on the Rez. So the official population density is 15 persons/square mile, but the real density for being on privately-owned land is 58 persons/square mile: almost 4 times as much!
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About what we are paying herein Indiana, too.
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