Interest in ‘backyard chickens’ spikes in St. Louis area amid egg shortage, price hikes

KIRKWOOD, Mo. (First Alert 4) - As egg prices continue to hit record highs and are only expected to increase through the end of the year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, interest in ‘backyard chickens’ is skyrocketing.

“The past few years, interest has been pretty big, but this year, it’s exemplary,” Stephen Krieger with O.K. Hatchery in Kirkwood tells First Alert 4.

Krieger says about 90% of the calls his store is getting are related to interest in starting a chicken coop.

“I believe it’s because of the shortage of eggs, the price of eggs, with the avian flu of course,” Krieger says.

The interest locally follows a similar trend nationally. Google Search trends show the term “backyard chickens” hit a 12-month high at the beginning of February. In the St. Louis area, interest peaked in mid-February.

Krieger sees the appeal.

“They’re sweet and gentle and kind, and they give you eggs - that’s the bonus,” Krieger says.

However, he also says it likely isn’t a cost-effective way to combat rising prices at the grocery store.

Research shows startup costs, including coop materials and hens, can run anywhere from $300 to $1,000 on average. Annual food and maintenance costs can cost another $200 to $500 yearly.

“From a dollars and cents standpoint, you know, it probably doesn’t work, but I think there’s a lot of non-monetary benefits from this that people enjoy,” David Anderson, a Texas A&M University Professor of Agricultural Economics, says.

Krieger agrees.

“It’s a lot of commitment, but it’s fresh. You know where [the eggs] came from,” Krieger says.

At the grocery store, relief is not expected any time soon. Egg prices typically spike around Easter due to high holiday demand, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicted last month that egg prices were likely to go up 20% this year.

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