The Chicken and the Egg: What to Do When Supply Chain Problems Keep Getting Worse (2023)

Whether you call it St. Lucia's Day, Candlemas or Imbolc, the halfway point between the vernal equinox and the spring solstice occurs this week, and that traditionally means eggs. I got my first egg of the year last week and am looking forward to more.

Currently, the average price of eggs is $4.25 per dozen,over $1.79a year ago.Now this is a national average. In my area I haven't found anything for less than $5.50 a dozen in over a month. Also, my shop only sells medium sized eggs these days. I'm not sure when I last saw large or extra large.

(Fun Fact: I have a good friend who has been in the egg industry for years, and before Covid, Americans were either exporting medium eggs to Asia or just throwing them away. There was no domestic demand. Now medium eggs seem to be all that is needed.) can get.)

Unfortunately, there are currently a variety of issues facing egg producers.

The big talk was bird flu. Around60 million birdsdied from the flu or were slaughtered due to recent outbreaks.That harms the production.

The damage to egg production facilities was less discussed, but it also occurred. Last Saturday, January 28ththere was a firein an egg factory in Connecticut and killed more than 100,000 birds. The cause of fire is not discovered yet.

The OP reported on the fires in the food facilitiesIn April, but the mainstream media insists there is nothing to see here.

I don't know enough about the average fire rates in industrial plants to make a valid argument as to whether or not these fires were intentional. But even if it is just a series of accidents, this series of accidents can be seen as evidence of the increasing alienation of the USA from the Third World.

Fabiano describedthird worldizationlike a slow burning shit hits the fan event, where it gradually gets worse. quality and availability decrease; prices and crime are rising; the quality of life gradually decreases. This was accompanied by reduced safety in the workplace. For decades, the American workplace has become cleaner and safer. Last but not least, the series of fires proves that this is no longer the case.some of the firesin 2022 occurred in factories known to have lax safety protocols.

And that, of course, affects our ability to process food, which in turn leads to lower availability and higher prices.

Given these situations, it is not unreasonablemore people than everexpressed interest in starting their own backyard herds.BetweenPandemic, food shortages, and a greater general awareness of animal welfare, many city and suburban residents have begun raising their own birds.

However, many of these small flock owners have recently complained of a larger than normal drop in egg production. The feed has been rumored to have been tampered with, and interestingly, people have said they're having issues with popular brands Producer's Pride and DuMor. Both are owned and normally have by Purinaa protein content of 16%.Lately it has been claimed that feed manufacturers have reduced the protein content, although I can't find any confirmation of this. Since I always buy my feed from a small regional producer, I have only recently paid attention to this.

And unfortunately, I wasn't alone in my lack of attention. Tucker Carlson just did an episode about our food supply problems, and he points out that it's difficult to get solid evidence on anything from the fires to the food problems because those in power aren't really interested. Oddly enoughhe reminds us at 0:54that Biden promised food shortageslast year. Biden appears to be delivering.

It might be time to get some local food.

I'm hesitant to point the finger and make accusations at the big feed companies just from hearsay.

However, if you are genuinely concerned about this, I think there are good reasons to look into sourcing locally sourced feed from independent producers.

I started aviculture in 2014 and have been serving clients looking for pasture raised, organically fed birds. Well, I've never had organic certification, but I've always bought feed from an organic certified producer. Despite the high cost, I have never regretted it.

First, you get what you pay for and higher quality feed means higher quality eggs. You will notice the difference in the color of the yolk, the texture of the white and the hardness of the shell.

Second, I have long suspected that specialty feed prices will be more stable over the long term, and the past few years have proven me right. My feed prices have increased by 20% since 2021. My friends in the egg industry who use conventional feed have seen a 100% increase. Yes, it's cheap, but it's doubled in a year. This is a big change and, as a business owner, a much more difficult adjustment for customers who are used to certain prices.

The reasons for this are diverse. If you want an in-depth discussion on why what most of us consider "luxury food" might be more stable in the long run, I encourage you to check out Joe Rogan's discussion with Will Harris of White Oak Pastures.Here.For the time being I will only say that the price difference between conventional and special feeds still exists, but is significantly lower than it was a few years ago. And that's not likely to change much in the near future.

Third, if you can find an independent feed manufacturer in your area, they may be more open to explaining what's going on in the event of future price increases. I have a good relationship with my feed manufacturer and they are great at explaining price increases or different recipes.

(Looking for other ways to protect your family from food shortages? Check out our free guidequick start Guideto build a 3-layer food storage system.)

But what if you don't have an independent producer in your area?

Or what if (more likely) you own a flock of six birds in the suburbs and the independent producers in your area supply no less than a tonne?

Gut,Formulation of your own feedis always an option that shouldn't scare you unnecessarily. People raised chickens long before they could run to Tractor Supply or Rural King for whatever they needed.

My layer ration is 16.5% protein and it has worked for me for years. Claimed brands have 16% protein; If you're struggling but don't want to throw away your ration, maybe try supplementing your current ration with some meat trimmings for a few weeks and see what happens.

Chickens are not naturally vegetarians. I saw my mice chasing mice and eating birds that had fallen out of their nests (that was disgusting). Don't be afraid to give them meaty leftovers.

Another option, if you have a pure bulk supplier, could be to find a group of backyard cattle owners in your area and come up with a plan to divide up a ton of feed. I would suggest getting equal size storage containers, something like a Rubbermaid because they close well and are rodent proof, and use those to evenly distribute the kibble. Dividing a ton of kibble into a few dozen boxes is tedious, tedious work, but depending on your situation, it could be a good option. Just make sure you have a wheelbarrow to move those crates later!

And be sure to discuss your situation with the feed manufacturer. They are all different. Some can dump a ton of feed into a grain hopper (if you can find one), and others carry feed in one-ton bags. And some feed manufacturers have subcontractors who will supply smaller amounts of feed for a fee. All kinds of arrangements are out there. There's no harm in asking questions.

To be honest, if you don't want to buy premium feed, if you are unfamiliar with raising animals, or if you don't already have experienced friends who can help you troubleshoot this, this may not be the time to look to start with . raise chickens.

If you're really concerned about your food supply and are willing to invest some money to secure animal protein, buying an extra freezer and trying to get a half or quarter ox might be a more cost-effective option. Just make sure you have a generator or are prepared to preserve, dehydrate, and/or salt the meat in the event of a long-term power outage.

life without eggs

I love eggs too, but they're not the cheapest no matter what you do.

If you're on a tight budget, there are other ways to keep healthy fats and protein in your diet.Here are some tips on getting your eggs at the best possible price.. I hope you don't throw away fat when cooking because it can be added to beans and veggies to make them more filling.see this articleabout fat utilization if you are interested in wasting as little food as possible.Mushrooms and onions fried in leftover bacon are a good, tasty alternative for breakfast. And flaxseed makes a decent egg substitute for most baking purposes. Simply mix 1 tablespoon of flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water, let it stand for at least ten minutes and that is the equivalent of a vegan egg.

If you really feel called to start raising your own birds, do your research. the operationpublished an articleabout getting started with a backyard herd.But it was written assuming a reliable supply of feed. Read the article again and remember that sourcing quality pet food can be a little more complicated than simply walking to the farm store and getting what you want.

(Want 24/7 access to The Organic Prepper? Give it a tryour paid subscription newsletter.)

Being more concerned with your food supply is wonderfully rewarding.

For some people, formulating pet food can be the next step in their livesjourney to independence. If you are really serious about starting your own garden herd, I truly wish you the best. Just understand that birds are a burden and you need to monitor them continuously.

And I cannot stress enough the importance of communication. If you don't have friends who personally raise chickens, find a social media group in your area where you can ask questions. I know MeWe has these kinds of groups, but you might as well ask for something like NextDoor.

And you? What kind of lining do you use? If you've noticed anything unusual about your birds over the past year, we'd love to hear about it. Tell us in the comment section below.

Sobre Marie Hawthorne

A lover of novels and a breeder of excellent apple pie recipes, Marie spends her free time writing about the world around her.

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