Why are Arizona Egg Prices Surging, but Not Chicken?

The other day, I was thumbing through an old cookbook I got from my mom. There were dozens of "economical recipes" for quick dishes a savvy cook could create with eggs: frittatas, quiches, omelets, scrambles, breakfast bowls—the list was endless.

Historically, eggs have been quick, cheap sources of protein. Nearly everyone has at least one way they like to eat eggs. Sadly, this may be a thing of the past.

Why do I suddenly have to take out a loan just to make an omelet? Bird flu (known to scientists as H5N1) has wreaked havoc on poultry farms across Arizona and around the U.S.

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Why Egg Prices Are Higher Than Chicken Prices in Arizona

The cost of eggs continues to skyrocket as cases of bird flu in Arizona devastate flocks. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the bird flu outbreak has led farmers to cull millions of chickens nationwide.

READ: 15 Risky Foods Sold in Arizona That Could Destroy Your Health

The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) provides detailed data on the number of birds affected by what they call highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks. The CDC is currently monitoring the situation.

The Cost of Chicken on the Rise in Arizona, but Not as Much as Eggs

The cost of chicken is also rising in Arizona, but thankfully, it's not climbing as fast as the price of eggs. That seems strange; egg prices rise daily, but chicken prices have only increased by about 1.2%. The question is, why?

If I remember the "chicken and egg" question I learned in grade school, shouldn't the price of chickens and eggs be affected equally? But that's not what we're seeing as consumers.

READ: The Reason Why Egg Prices Could Skyrocket in Arizona

The difference is the impact on the type of chickens affected by the H5N1 virus. The impact of bird flu on egg-laying hens is much worse.

Those birds are getting sick much faster than other fowl, which accounts for the big drop in egg supply. Meat chickens have not been affected quite as drastically.

Shifting Consumer Habits in Arizona

We're changing the way we shop in Arizona in response to the chicken flu. People are cooking at home more often, and they're looking for more affordable protein options. Egg demand has surged, along with prices.

We might need to archive some of those "affordable egg meals" I found in Mom's cookbook - at least until this crisis ends.

Sources: CDC: USDA Report on Bird Flu | AZ Central | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | APHIS Data