Chickens might never fly high, but the price of their eggs sure has. Egg prices have reached a near-record high at supermarkets across the country as bird flu continues to disrupt egg supply and demand,

Still, a lack of eggs and steep prices may lead consumers to move to other cheap forms of protein, which could lead to consumer-induced shortages and price increases, one expert told USA TODAY. Egg-laying hens and broiler chickens – poultry raised for meat – are different,

Are you thinking about backyard chickens as egg prices soar? Think hard, especially in light of the bird flu outbreak.