A deadly bird flu outbreak has wreaked havoc on U.S. chicken farms, claiming the lives of over 20 million egg-laying chickens last quarter, marking the worst impact on America's egg supply since the outbreak began in 2022.

Eggs can be eaten in many different forms: scrambled, poached, fried, boiled or in omelets, soufflés, custards or meringues. But one way that food safety experts say they shouldn’t be consumed is raw.

The shortfall has sent egg prices everywhere rocketing in a trend that has accelerated during the holidays. At Pete’s, co-owner Lindsay Timpson said the restaurant paid $43 for a case of eggs a year ago. As of Monday, they were paying $128. In a six-day stretch in December, prices rose 35%.

Eggs are in short supply in California and high priced due to bird flu, laws, high labor and supply costs, and increased consumption

Two different strains of bird flu have been cropping up across the country, posing a threat to livestock and possibly raising prices at the grocery store. So far, only one case has been reported in Vermont,