Still struggling with record inflation over the last few years, consumers have been shell-shocked by the soaring cost of eggs. A dozen on Long Island has shot up to $10 as more than 150 million fowl have been euthanized to fight a new strain of bird flu that is sweeping across the nation.
Following the detection of seven bird flu cases in New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul shut down markets selling live birds in the city and Westchester, Nassau, and Suffolk counties. Her order requires the businesses to sell all inventory, complete cleaning and disinfection procedures, and remain closed until they get a green light from Department of Agriculture and Markets inspectors. Avian influenza can cause sudden death in birds and has a high mortality rate once it infects a flock.
The H5N1 strain of the disease was first identified in geese in China in 1996 and found its way to people in Hong Kong in 1997. With 66 confirmed cases in the U.S., primarily among individuals working closely with poultry or dairy farms, and only one resulting in death, the bird flu is not considered a significant threat to human health.
Its effect on egg prices and the bottom line of local restaurants is another story. Over at the Country Cottage Diner in Center Moriches, owner Jack Schwartz said the wholesale cost of a case of 30 dozen jumped from $35 to more than $200. “We’re holding the line on our menu prices so far, but it hasn’t been easy, especially with the cost of everything else going up,” Schwartz noted.
Also resisting a price hike is Spiro Nikolopoulos at the Moriches Bay Diner. “We don’t want to lose our customers and are keeping prices the same,” he said. “But we’re waiting to see what happens. We’re hoping the inflation starts to go down. If not, we will be forced to change the menu. We don’t want to be the ones who raised prices and then look like we took advantage of the situation when they come back down,” Nikolopoulos said, pointing out that he hasn’t raised prices on his menus in a few years. “Getting all new menus would cost about $6,000,” he said of the multi-page diner offering. “We don’t want to do that.”
As egg prices surged and retailers rationed a limited supply, the epidemic hit at least one Suffolk County farm with a vengeance. Crescent duck farm in Aquebogue made national news when it was ordered to destroy 100,000 birds by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The only duck farm left in a region once famous for its poultry, Crescent let go 45 workers in the wake of the culling. The farm is banking its future on eggs it's been incubating to keep its strain of Pekin duck alive. Before the outbreak, it had produced about a million birds annually, making up 4.4% of the country’s duck production.
Over at Miloski’s Poultry Farm in Calverton, owner Mark Miloski said the governor’s ban did not affect him. “We’re not a live market selling directly to the public, so we’re not part of that. Everything is fine with our farm. We’re not having any problems.”
“Safeguarding public health is all about being proactive, and New York State is continuing our coordinated effort to monitor for the Avian Influenza,” Governor Hochul said. “My top priority will always be to keep New Yorkers safe, and I have directed our state agencies to use all available resources to ensure we are taking every measure necessary to keep the risk to the public low. We will continue to take these measured, common sense steps that will curb the spread of bird flu and ultimately protect our communities.”
One answer to the poultry crisis is raising your own. “We believe that people should have the right to enjoy their property and raise chickens responsibly for their families,” said Dan Panico, supervisor for Brookhaven, which amended the town code last year to allow more birds. Residents can have six hens on lots up to 20,000 square feet and up to 12 for larger properties. No roosters are allowed due to their loud cock-a-doodle-doos. For those looking to keep chickens, they’ll need at least 10 feet between their coops and the neighbors.
“The bottom line is that chickens are an incredible way to upcycle food waste into eggs as a source of nutrition for a family,” Supervisor Panico said. “While the code loosened the prior regulations, we encourage all those who might seek to raise backyard chickens to first educate themselves on best practices and essential implements to protect a flock and maintain a healthy and sanitary backyard. Those who took advantage of these code amendments are not only saving food scraps from the garbage pail, but are saving money with the daily collection of the incredible, edible egg.”
“We’re lucky to have neighbors who have chickens. They give us eggs all the time, and they taste much better than the ones you get at the store,” said Amy Weinhauer of Selden. “One friend has an outdoor coop, and he gets fewer eggs in the winter. The other family has a larger setup with heat for the chickens. They get a lot of eggs all year round.”
To report sick birds, unexplained high number of deaths, or sudden drop in egg production, residents are asked to contact the state’s Division of Animal Industry at 518-457-3502 or the USDA at 866-536-7593.