It’s been a little busier than usual the first few weeks of Murdoch’s chick season, but it’s nothing like a couple of years ago. 

Then, instead of dealing with sky-high egg prices like now, there were simply hardly any eggs at all to purchase. 

Darby Thomas, poultry specialist at Murdoch’s, thinks it may be because in 2022-2023 ago a lot of people learned a lesson. 

“Within six months I saw a lot of those people selling their chickens,” she said. “If you’re just trying to supplement eggs for a few months, it’s probably not worth it.”

There are many other chicken related costs to consider, such as feed, lights and of course a coop for them. There’s also the fact that chicks don’t lay eggs for three-to-four months, and by then the high egg cost crisis may be over. That’s because the large producers who have had to eradicate flocks due to the latest bird flu outbreak will likely have new flocks laying eggs. 

That being said, Thomas said chickens can be a wonderful addition to anybody who wants not just free eggs, but a chance for meat and even friendly companionship amongst more outgoing members of the flock. 

Thomas has one such bird, a little gray sapphire gem named Sophie. 

“She’s the first following behind me when I do my chores and she’ll jump up on my shoulder in the coop and just stay there, playing with my hair,” Thomas said. “She’s an odd bird.”

Murdoch’s is one of a number of stores in the area, along with Cody farm stores like Bomgaars and Tractor Supply, that sell small coops and all of the other equipment needed to start a flock.