Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has a very smart suggestion for Americans dealing with exorbitant prices for eggs: Buy chickens.
I can’t think of a better piece of advice in these current times.
During a Saturday appearance on Fox & Friends Weekend, host Rachel Campos-Duffy raised this proposition. Rollins responded:
I think the silver lining in all of this is how do we, in our backyards, we've got chickens in our backyard, how do we solve for something like this? People are looking around thinking, ‘Wow, well, maybe I could get a chicken in my backyard.’ It's awesome.
Folks on the left are big mad at Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins for suggesting that Americans buy chickens to deal with high egg prices.
— Jeff Charles, The Nullifier🏴 (@jeffcharlesjr) March 4, 2025
But she's right.
It can not only save you money, it also provides numerous other benefits.
If you can, you should buy a few hens! pic.twitter.com/N7khQ8iCBZ
Of course, folks on the left slammed Rollins for this suggestion. But Democrats are the reason why egg prices are so high in the first place, so listening to them is like asking Kamala Harris how to become President of the United States.
The reality is that owning chickens is a great way to save money and enjoy several other important benefits. Of course, there is some work involved in the process, but the rewards are worth it.
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Let’s say a family decides to raise their own chickens because of the price of eggs. They might purchase four hens (no rooster needed unless you plan to breed them) for about five dollars each. They would have to purchase feeders, waterers, and bedding, which could amount to about $100.
Depending on the family’s situation, they may not need to buy a coop. They could build one if necessary, or shell out up to $600 for a coop. But there are chicken runs folks can buy on Amazon that are far less – a little over $100. There are also feed costs to think about. In my area, a 50 lb bag of feed is about $15 to $20. But with only four hens, it would take quite a while for your flock to get through that much feed.
Of course, the more you buy, the greater the reward. Just saying!
If you get a high egg-producing breed such as Easter Eggers or Rhode Island Reds, each will lay up to 300 eggs per year. With four hens, that could amount to 1,200 eggs annually, or 23 per week. I can't imagine how much money my fiance and I have already saved by having our own chicken farm. Look at these eggs!
Not too shabby, right?
Over the long term, this family could save quite a bit of cash.
But wait, there’s more! Raising chickens doesn’t just produce financial benefits. Home-raised eggs have richer yolks, higher omega-3 content, and far fewer contaminants that are typically found in store-bought eggs. They are far tastier and healthier because your chickens would not be subject to mass farming conditions.
Chickens also provide a form of pest control. Are you sick of spiders, mosquitoes, and other insects? Your birds will gladly consume those for you, which would also lower feed costs.
If you’re also into gardening, chickens can provide an excellent organic fertilizer to improve your soil health.
Chickens can also reduce waste because they will eat just about anything. If you want to get rid of kitchen scraps such as vegetable peels, leftovers, and other forms of waste, your birds will take care of this for you.
It is also worth mentioning that having chickens encourages a more self-reliant lifestyle. Instead of relying on grocery stores subject to silly government policies that result in inflation, you can have your very own food source. This is especially important if there is a food shortage. It’s an incredible way to embrace liberty.
Lastly, having a backyard flock can promote stronger ties with your neighbors through sharing eggs, trading resources, and other ways. In fact, you might think about selling some of your eggs at a lower price to recoup some of your feed costs.
My fiancé has taken to offering eggs to just about everyone we meet. This includes the FedEx and UPS drivers, guys at the feed store, and our neighbors. We have so many birds that they produce far more eggs than I could ever eat – and I can eat quite a bit! In fact, I had a tasty pesto salmon omelet this morning courtesy of our flock.
Of course, it is also important to be aware of the local and state laws regarding chicken ownership. Many areas have governments that impose onerous measures to limit or prohibit chicken ownership. If this is the case, then this is yet another reason why it is so important to focus on local politics, which directly affects your life more than what is happening in the D.C. swamp.
To sum it up, raising chicken is not only a rewarding hobby, it can also help you save money while promoting better health. Those who can follow Rollins’ advice should do so: You won’t regret it.
