Today's Article

A 1disappointing result, but a 2common occurrence for many farms across the state.

“The 3avian flu has definitely impacted us.”

A challenge, Chelsea Carrigan, the owner of Red Barn Farm in Redmond, has been taking on since May of 2022, when the avian flu was first detected in the state.

“One wild bird coming into their 4chicken run, and the next thing you know 10 birds, 20 birds, 30 birds... they’re just 5dropping dead.”

Carrigan says they had to shutdown 6agritourism 7in fear of the flu coming to her farm. She’s also tried to cover their runs as much as possible, so wild birds wouldn’t come in.

“We also 8do health checks on them.”

On top of the avian flu having its impact, she believes the 9unpredictable seasonal changes have also been a leading cause to her chickens struggling to 10lay eggs.

“18 eggs some days, when we were usually getting, you know, 15 to 18 dozen this time last year.”

She says the lack of production and an increase in costs for chicken feed and cartons has led her to increase her own prices... 

“Anymore coffee?”

...which one nearby breakfast staple has already been dealing with for months with their own supplier.

“Outrageous, as you’ve seen at the grocery stores, that you’re paying a lot more for your eggs and all your breakfast products.”

Anne Harris, the manager of Redmond Family Pancake House, says in her 30 years of working at the restaurant she’s never seen egg’s cost this much. She estimates her suppliers have increased prices for eggs by about 60 percent.