Free-range chickens lead the good life on Ewetopian Farm in rural Vinton, but Jessica Moessner worries that a delay in receiving their chick order could mean fewer eggs to sell as farmers markets begin this May.
“It took a lot to get them this year, but we finally got them in January or February,” Ms. Moessner said, citing a six-to-seven month lag before the young hens, called pullets, start laying eggs.
Farmers market managers predict a strong demand for eggs this year, with prices in grocery stores hitting record highs, surpassing $6 per dozen on average nationwide in March, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics…