Region's egg farmers scramble to meet demand
Jewel Lake Ranch in southern Bonner County has been selling fresh eggs to locals for some time, and they typically have enough left over to share with friends and neighbors.
But skyrocketing egg prices combined with shortages in many area grocery stores have left the ranch struggling to keep up with demand, owner Michelle Paxton said.
“I can’t keep up with people who want to buy them, who are just finding out about us through word of mouth,” Paxton said.
Paxton, who is also a real estate agent, distributes six-packs of eggs at her open houses, which she says has become a bigger draw than ever.
“People come in and say, ‘Oh my gosh, you have eggs!’” Paxton said.
Jewel Lake Ranch sells their organic, free-range eggs for $6 a dozen — cheaper than the current national average for a dozen large grade A eggs, which was $7.22 on Friday, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The demand for locally farmed eggs is being felt by other ranches and backyard farms throughout North Idaho.
Jeff Hershey of Coeur d’Alene owns about 30 chickens and said he’s seen an increase in need from his community.
“(I’ve) been giving tons of eggs away to lots of people due to the high prices and shortage of eggs,” Hershey said.
As local farms are feeling the pressure, local egg buyers like Alyse Baughan are having difficulty finding them.
“I was able to get some at the Kootenai Cabin Fever Markets from Selkirk Bison Company but definitely had to be diligent about getting there early because it’s first come, first serve,” Baughan said. “The times I missed those markets, I was at the mercy of the supply chain at normal box stores.”
Supply chain disruptions caused by avian flu outbreaks are now coupled with hens' natural cycles of laying fewer eggs during the winter months, exacerbating the shortage in a time of already high demand.
While industrial farms often use artificial light to create favorable laying conditions and yield more eggs, backyard farms typically see a drop-off in production this time of year, decreasing their overall supply.
The flock of 30 chickens at Jewel Lake Ranch yield between 12 to 18 eggs on a typical day, Paxton said, but the egg count can be as low as six during the winter months.
Paxton added that many local farmers are currently trying to grow their flocks but are finding it difficult to buy chicks at local suppliers like North 40 and Tractor Supply because they are being bought as quickly as they come in.
“People might be feeling insecure and worried that they may not be able to get eggs in the future,” Paxton said.
While some may be considering starting their own backyard flock to keep their family supplied with eggs, Paxton warned that the average North Idaho farm is simply not large enough to yield profitable egg production.
“Anyone who has chickens will tell you that unless you have a large-scale farm, you’re not in it to make a profit,” Paxton said.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 85% of eggs sold in stores come from laying hens in industrial houses that contain between 50,000 to 350,000 hens in total.
That's quite a jump from six, the number of chickens allowed in most residential backyards in Idaho.
Aside from startup costs of essentials like a chicken coop and the chicks themselves, feed costs are also on the rise, Paxton said.
She said that bags of the non-GMO feed used by Jewel Lake Ranch used to go for $32. She's now paying around $50 a bag.
Baughan, who had considered raising her own chickens in the past, echoed Paxton’s thoughts.
“I’ve read that the time and cost involved in raising them does not yield a good return on the investment,” Baughan said.
Even so, Baughan has lately been revisiting the idea of a backyard farm, as it doesn’t appear the egg problem will resolve anytime soon.
“It all depends on whether I can get a coop for an affordable price,” Baughan said.
Farm-fresh eggs from Jewel Lake Ranch in southern Bonner County.
Gus, a Jewel Lake Ranch laying hen, right, snuggles with Huey the rooster.