This is why Canada has plenty of eggs — and the U.S. doesn't

[DrQ]

This is why Canada has plenty of eggs — and the U.S. doesn't​

https://www.npr.org/2025/03/18/nx-s1-5330454/egg-shortages-record-prices-usda-canada

But perhaps the biggest difference is that egg farms in Canada are much smaller, so when one farm does suffer a flu outbreak, the effects are less far-reaching. The typical egg farm in Canada has about 25,000 laying hens, whereas many farms in the U.S. have well over a million. In effect, American farmers have put a lot more of their eggs in a relatively small number of baskets.​

 

[WaikikiFirst]

I swear what I read, in round #s, 150 M chickens died in the USA, half died of the disease and half were killed (oh, "culled" either under govt order or not) to stop the spread. Was the ratio the same in Canada?
the decentralization sure should help in such cases

 

[WaikikiFirst]

I just remembered the silver lining of the chicken deaths, at least for a few of us. 1x or 2x /yr, we do a bike ride up in Sonoma, that goes along a looong desolate road that has 2 huge chicken farms on it. Even with the usually strong wind, it always smelled like BLEEP for a couple miles. Well, not the last time I rode it. Hardly any smell. this is inland from Bodega Bay. It seems to be chicken-farm heaven

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

Hi @DrQ - thanks for posting. I read the article &
It explains the benefits and negatives of Canadian supply management farming .

We are in Puerto Vallarta & Mexican egg prices are similar to Canadian egg prices & with lots of availability in the stores .

 

[Brett]

border control !


.

oops .. wrong border - sorry

https://nypost.com/2025/03/18/us-news/us-border-agents-seizing-more-eggs-than-fentanyl/

 

[VanX]

border control !


.

oops .. wrong border - sorry



View attachment 107852

https://nypost.com/2025/03/18/us-news/us-border-agents-seizing-more-eggs-than-fentanyl/

Great they’ve “cracked” the case of the illegal egg imports but really “un ouef is enough” already. Someone’s career might be “poached” if they don’t get this right.

I’m sure thoughts were “scrambled” on why this was a growing trend recently. As a Canadian my thoughts immediately went to feeling be”deviled” about this.

Likely they’ll get things properly managed and all done “over easy” soon.

Not sure which is worse…, how “quiche” they discovered the problem or how on the scale of things this won’t amount up to one frittatas worth of trouble for the folks bringing them in. Omelet the proper authorities decide I guess

 

[billymach4]

All this eggsightment

 

[Finntastic]

I am fortunate to live in a rural area that even in the middle of winter I can get farm fresh eggs for 5$ a dozen. Lots of backyard chicken coops.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Maui has lots of eggs, and every store has many different brands, pretty much $1 per egg at Times Market, which is ridiculous, and that may be why there are plenty of eggs.

Costco was $8.99/2 dozen. Bargain priced.

 

[Superchief]

There was an interesting news segment on a local station last week. It showed that the shift to free range eggs dramatically increased the incidence of bird flu because the chickens were much more exposed to domestic bird infection. Perhaps producers need to shift back to the traditional production. Free range chickens won't be happier than caged ones if they are dead.

 

[moonstone]

I was wishing I could have found a way to bring some eggs from our stay in Belize this winter to our FL condo. In January and February we were paying $1.00BZ (.50 cents US) for 4 eggs and they were large ones, often double yolks. Funny side note -they put the eggs in a plastic bag when you tell them how many you want if you are not buying the flat of 30. We learned early on to buy eggs last and dont put the bag in our bicycle basket.

We had some sticker shock when we did our first grocery shop here in St. Augustine 3 weeks ago. At Walmart a carton of 18 extra large was $9.12, a dozen large was $5.97. Yikes! We have decided to eat eggs one at a time while we are here instead of our normal 2 each for breakfast. We will get back to our normal consumption when we get home in 6 weeks.


~Diane

 

[Passepartout]

Was out walking the dog this afternoon and the neighbor was out. She asked if we could use some eggs? Sure, sez I. They have maybe 6 or so hens and a duck or two. Quackers and cluckers to the dog- and that seems to overproduce what they need, so we're happy to help out. Made me feel a little guilty that I've just been smashing the egg cartons from the store.

 

[amycurl]

I can still get organic free-range locally-harvested eggs for $5/dz at the farmer’s market. Even Aldi wanted more than that for mass-produced eggs. I don’t get why people are paying those prices when they don’t have to…at least in my neck of the woods.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[DebBrown]

Farm eggs still $4/dozen in SW Michigan. Taste better too!

 

[geist1223]

We recently spent 3 weeks in Australia - Phillip Island, Melbourne, and Hobart. When we were in Melbourne there were spot shortages of eggs. What was interesting the bigger stores like Coles/Woolworth were more likely to have an egg shortage. The small corner IGA's normally had eggs.

The other day Fred Meyer (Kroger) had 5 Dozen Eggs for $ 34.49. Costco's Eggs were $8.99 for 2 Dozen with a limit of 3 cartons.

 

[geekette]

I am fortunate to live in a rural area that even in the middle of winter I can get farm fresh eggs for 5$ a dozen. Lots of backyard chicken coops.

I’ve got it even better: walk down the hill, stick hand in coop and pull out as many eggs as I want. Usually just a dozen, fill the carton, walk back up to home. These are much richer than store bought.

Side benefit is walking thru all the beautiful roosters.

 

[am1]

I was wishing I could have found a way to bring some eggs from our stay in Belize this winter to our FL condo. In January and February we were paying $1.00BZ (.50 cents US) for 4 eggs and they were large ones, often double yolks. Funny side note -they put the eggs in a plastic bag when you tell them how many you want if you are not buying the flat of 30. We learned early on to buy eggs last and dont put the bag in our bicycle basket.

We had some sticker shock when we did our first grocery shop here in St. Augustine 3 weeks ago. At Walmart a carton of 18 extra large was $9.12, a dozen large was $5.97. Yikes! We have decided to eat eggs one at a time while we are here instead of our normal 2 each for breakfast. We will get back to our normal consumption when we get home in 6 weeks.


~Diane

I pay $4.50 for 30.

If flying to Toronto in 6 weeks you may be the only passengers on the plane. Watch for cancelations as well.

 

[moonstone]

If flying to Toronto in 6 weeks you may be the only passengers on the plane. Watch for cancelations as well.

No, we are driving our car home that we drove down here last fall. We left it at our condo when we went home for Christmas then to Belize, then back home before flying back down here March 4th. Hopefully we arrive home in time to vote on Apr.28th -I think the polling stations are open until 9 or 9:30pm, we should make it there by then, leaving here on the 27th.

~Diane

 

[easyrider]

Hi @DrQ - thanks for posting. I read the article &
It explains the benefits and negatives of Canadian supply management farming .

We are in Puerto Vallarta & Mexican egg prices are similar to Canadian egg prices & with lots of availability in the stores .

When we buy eggs in Mexico they are not refrigerated. Is this the way it is in Canada too ?

Bill

 

[VacationForever]

When we buy eggs in Mexico they are not refrigerated. Is this the way it is in Canada too ?

Bill

Refrigerated in Canada like in the US.

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

Last night we arrived home from 7 weeks in Puerto Vallarta Mx
[ we switched locations 4 times & I used TS arbitrage that I learned from TUG for optimum cost ]

I bought milk and eggs last night at Shoppers Drug Mart on the way home from YYZ / Pearson for $ 3.99 CAD =
USD $2.80 per dozen

**************
FYI - Milk was $ 6.25 CAD for the package of 3 bags / 4 litres. [ Canadian Milk in 1 Litre Bags is for another thread ]
This is approx. $ 4.25 USD a gallon [ currency and litres / gallons converted]
Canadian Milk is Supply Managed so a bit more costly than USA Milk.
{ I once read that Cdn. Cow Milk on average has less cow milk pus because of controls based on smaller herd sizes .]
Canadian Farm Supply Management uses a quota system for that product { Milk - Egg Laying Chickens- Chickens for Eating]
Basically the Farmer owns the quota .

PS - there were brief snow flurries last night
@moonstone - your plan to come home in April is a good one

Perhaps What Ever Government is elected April 28th can come up with a way to supply manage snowfalls
They could also consider putting a tariff on incoming snowstorms and an export tax on outgoing snowstorms.

 

[moonstone]

When we buy eggs in Mexico they are not refrigerated. Is this the way it is in Canada too ?

Bill

It is the same when we buy eggs in Belize.

~Diane

 

[easyrider]

They could also consider putting a tariff on incoming snowstorms and an export tax on outgoing snowstorms.

I wouldn't be surprised if it hadn't been considered, lol.

Bill

 

[geekette]

When we buy eggs in Mexico they are not refrigerated. Is this the way it is in Canada too ?

Bill

Not sure about truth of this, but someone I knew that worked around the world as English as Second Language teacher said US is only place they refrigerate eggs. When I go get them from the coop, I don’t refrigerate. When I lived off grid, I didn’t refrigerate and that was risky because those were store eggs that had been refrigerated and it could be quite warm at camp. I never had any problems but I was quite nervous the first few cartons.

 

[Brett]

Not sure about truth of this, but someone I knew that worked around the world as English as Second Language teacher said US is only place they refrigerate eggs. When I go get them from the coop, I don’t refrigerate. When I lived off grid, I didn’t refrigerate and that was risky because those were store eggs that had been refrigerated and it could be quite warm at camp. I never had any problems but I was quite nervous the first few cartons.

right, no need to refrigerate eggs from the local farm.

https://www.organicvalley.coop/blog/why-does-us-refrigerate-eggs/