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To combat the skyrocketing prices of eggs, the United States administration has suggested to raise chicken in backyards.
Some companies have also come forward offering rental services of chicken, which allows people to hire 2-4 chickens for a period of six months to one year to access eggs.
Owing to the mass culling of egg laying chicken due to rapid spread of bird flu, the prices of eggs have shot up to as much as $14 per dozen in some parts of the US.
Since February 2022, when the outbreak in poultry was declared, over 166 million chickens have been culled. Then, eggs would cost an average of $1.93, but by January 2023, it more than doubled to $4.82. At present, the retail market has priced to $4.95 and $10 or higher in some parts of the country such as Chicago, New York and San Francisco.
The Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, on February 26 announced to intervene and promised $1 billion dollar comprehensive strategy to mitigate the crisis and curb the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), to protect the country industry and reduce egg prices.
The detailed plans include pumping in $500 million for biosecurity measures, another $400 million for financial relief as compensation for affected farmers while another $100 million for vaccine research.
However, she said it would take another three to six months before the egg prices stabilise as the prices are expected to increase by 41 per cent.
As an alternative measure, Rollins said, “People are sort of looking around thinking, ‘Wow, well maybe I can get a chicken in my backyard,’ and it’s awesome,” in an interview with Fox TV.
According to The Economic Times, another trend emerging from the growing crisis is that people are now opting to rent chicken.
A company Rent The Chicken told CBS News they offer chickens on a six-monthly rental, enabling people to rear and access fresh chicken without requiring the long-term commitment to raise the birds.
The company also offers, book, tutorial including the chickens, feed and phone support to take care of the chickens.
The news channel claimed that the the demand for chickens has grown since October, with the sales of chicken feed also increasing simultaneously.
A healthy hen can lay up to five eggs a week, making it a feasible option, the news channel mentioned in the segment.