As Americans turn to Easter season and egg prices continue to rise, many Tennessees are considering changing their regular Easter plans as they keep their eggs on their menu and hide in their yards.
Ginny Miniger’s grocery budget isn’t as tight as some people’s, she says, but forgets a few things to buy eggs for Easter.
“There are some traditions that I have to continue,” said the Chattanooga woman. “So I forget some chocolate bunny treats.
Dr. Tom Tavler, University of Tennessee Poultry Expansion and Research Specialist, has not foreseen a drop in egg prices any time soon.
“When we head towards Easter season, don’t expect high prices for eggs, which is always a high time when eggs are in high demand,” he said.
Tennessee chicken industry has not been hit so hard by bird flu, data shows
In 2023, the average consumption of eggs in the US was estimated at 281 per person. While egg demand has risen for the past 23 consecutive months, the avian flu continues to plague flocks of egg-laying chickens across the country, keeping egg prices at an all-time high.
Tabre said the disease has destroyed egg supply in recent months. And when egg demand is high, supply and demand can also help promote egg prices.
“It’s unlikely that it will change in the near future,” Tabler said. “Since the recent bird flu outbreak began in February 2022, roughly 100 million table egg-laying hens have been lost to the disease.”
“About 100 million people were lost between October 2024 and February 2025,” Tabler said. “The loss of so many birds in such a short time frame has led to high levels of egg prices.”
According to federal government policies, if one bird in a flock of spawning hens is affected by the bird flu, the entire flock must be negligent.
Support your local farmers
Historically, eggs purchased directly from farms are cheaper than supermarkets.
“It’s a good way to find eggs cheaply when local farmers say ‘farm fresh eggs’ are near the roads,” Tabler says. “Social media may be another potential source of information to find eggs. Your local county expansion office may be another possibility.”
Kelsey Keener cultivates the Marion County family’s land as he was a boy, and now serves organic vegetables, native plants, grass-fed meat, fruits, farm cheese and eggs raised in pastures at his Shafferty Cove Farm farm stand.
He has a flock of 5,000 egg-laying hens, and the number is expected to grow to 7,000 layers by late April. And he said the business has been better than ever, with the high demand for eggs and consumers looking for lower prices.
“The national egg shortage caused by the avian flu outbreak was actually really good for family egg surgery, as there was more egg demand than we’ve experienced in agriculture over 20 years,” he said. Keener sells eggs from the farm for $7 per dozen and is selling them for $8 per dozen on Wednesdays in Chattanooga.
To ensure that the eggs his customers buy are safe, he feeds high quality chicken food and serves them around outdoor spaces of fresh air.
“That being said, if you have concerns about the safety of the eggs you are eating, cook them,” Keeler said. “The heat from cooking kills any potentially harmful viruses and bacteria.”
Eggs on the menu
Restaurants also feel a pinch of high prices, and as a result, they are giving customers higher prices.
Mason Whitman, manager of Brother Junipers, a popular breakfast eatery in Memphis, said his restaurant added an extra $1 fee to each egg dish on the menu, including the menu and egg Benedict.
“This is a temporary measure,” he said. “If the price you pay from an Arkansas supplier comes down, you can remove it.”
Farmers and table egg companies are working to replace lost herds, but that’s a time-consuming process.
“Swap birds must hatch and grow for up to six months before they can start laying eggs,” says Tabler. “As long as we continue to lose spawning to bird flu on a regular basis, we will continue to keep up with swarms of exchanges, egg prices will remain high and will likely be high for the rest of the year.”
Get the morning heading.
