Sam Shueh
SamShuehRealtor@gmail.com
Campbell, CA
My realtor friend likes to raise her own chickens in her backyard. Her family used to sell extra eggs to supplement their family income. Unfortunately, this small urban town in California has a restriction on how many one can have in one's backyard. The happy rooster had 18 female companions and he complained a lot earlier in the morning by voicing his opinon. This prompted the city to investigate and found out she had a farm industry in her small backyard.
This got me curious how much it costs to raise ones own eggs at home. First I asked my wife what the cost of eggs were. She stared at me by saying you don't know egg prices have gone up? The price of a dozen eggs has soared more than 30% in just one month to $2.57 in June from $1.96 in May, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. At Morgan Hill, CA farmers market they are charging $6.00 (six dollars) a dozen for eggs last weekend!
The price rise in recent months is due to an outbreak of avian influenza virus H5N1; about 50 million chickens and hens have either died from the flu or have been euthanized.
No new cases of the virus have been detected for more than a month, but U.S. Agriculture Secretary Vilsack said he was not going to declare the war was over as he was cautious. We stopped eating chicken for awhile. Want to contract H5N1?
Many consumers are more concerned about the provenance of their eggs than the price per dozen. “No human infections with these viruses have been detected at this time,” the “However, similar viruses have infected people in the past. Nothing is a sure thing until proven later.
Americans like my realtor friend prefer to eat fresh eggs from hens they’ve raised themselves rather than buy eggs from their local store. But the overhead investment on a backyard flock can be steep. And it’s a big commitment. What’s a die hard omelet lover going to do?
How about renting a hen? My realtor friends wanted to give me a dozen chickens to be evicted by the animal control. Are you interested? Wife says you better figure and cost and effort to keep them in our bone dried backyard! This does not take account into over-purchase produce such they get nutritious balanced food intake.
Do you know I have to do more transaction a month to raise my own eggs?
My advice is when you buy chicks make sure you do not have more than 1 rooster roaming among the chicks. That is another story.
compiled by Sam Shueh
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