Still, even though wholesale egg prices are decreasing, it may be a while before consumers see significant price drops in grocery stores, especially as egg demand remains high with the Easter holiday around the corner.
Some stores have continued to limit the number of cartons customers can purchase. A similar limitation has now been extended to live poultry.
Anoka Ramsey Farm & Garden has implemented a new 10-chicken purchase limit for customers during walk-ins on Fridays to prevent reselling. There is no limit for pre-orders.
Tidrick said the store hopes to continue selling chicks throughout the summer, but he only has them pre-ordered from their primary hatchery, Hoover’s Hatchery, through May 2. Despite sending the pre-ordered chicks, Hoover’s has been unreachable.
“It’s very lucky that we ordered when we did back at Christmas because we’ve been cut off from our hatchery now, as has everybody,” Tidrick said. “Our chick lady hasn’t spoken with them for six weeks. They won’t answer our calls, our rep won’t return calls, it’s a mess.”
EggPlant Urban Farm Supply in St. Paul also gets its chicks through Hoover’s Hatchery, but communication has been nonexistent. Johanna Lies, assistant manager of the store, said EggPlant only offers chick pre-orders and are sold out until the middle of May for some breeds, which has never happened before.