The average price of eggs nationwide hit $4.15 a dozen in December 2024, over a dollar more than the Jan. 2024 average. In Logan this week, egg prices per dozen range from $5 to almost $9.
Local businesses like Herm's Inn that rely on eggs are being forced to consider raising prices to account for the rapid increase in the cost of eggs, while some residents are turning to local farmers for eggs when grocery store shelves run low.
Herm's Inn owner Jeremy Jones said not only have prices increased, but some days he isn't sure if he can get enough.
"It's been pretty scary lately on the egg side," Jones said. "A breakfast restaurant with no eggs is a sad thing."
He said they used to pay $45 for a case of 15 dozen eggs. His most recent order was almost $114 a case, and they use six to 10 cases a week.
Jones said they haven't raised any of their prices yet, but they are going to be forced to do something soon.
"The prices have just skyrocketed," Jones said.
The Crêpery Logan has also felt the pressure of rising egg prices.
Manager Evelyn Lopez said the restaurant used to spend about $98 on eggs a week for its crepe batter and other menu items. The last shipment was $130.
She said they have yet to raise any of their prices because of the cost, but she has a meeting with the business owners next week to update the menu, and they may discuss price changes.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture Egg Market Overview, "(Egg) offerings remain very light with little chance for improvement in the near-term as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) continues to impact productive flocks."
HPAI causes severe illness and death in poultry and wild birds. Since being detected in January 2022, over 156 million birds have been affected, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
According to the USDA, over 25 million birds have been affected so far in 2025.
Farms that have to cull large flocks due to disease may take months to recover, as it takes about six months to raise a chicken to egg laying age.
With the loss of millions of commercial egg-laying chickens, egg suppliers are seeing prices for remaining supply rise.
Smith's website displays a disclaimer. "Due to recent supply shortages of fresh eggs across the market, we are currently limited in sourcing eggs that meet our strict quality standards. We appreciate your patience as we work to get all egg varieties back in stock."
Some local farmers are seeing an increase in requests for farm fresh eggs.
Twelve-year-old Caydence Kirkham has been raising chickens and selling eggs at $5 a dozen since she was 10 years old, according to her mother Chauna King.
Kirkham has just over 100 chickens on her family farm in Benson. King said they have recently seen an increase in people wanting to buy eggs, and even have a wait list, though part of that may be that the chickens don't lay as often in the winter.
Lewiston farmer Ned Simper said he has also seen an increased demand for eggs. Simper primarily raises goats and sheep, but raises chickens to eat bugs and flies, selling the eggs as a side business for $4 a dozen.
Simper and King both said they haven't had any issues with bird flu so far.
HPAI is widespread in wild birds worldwide and is causing outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows with several recent human cases in U.S. dairy and poultry workers.
To learn more about bird flu, go to www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/.