NEW YORK CITY (WPIX) – Avian flu is forcing farmers to slaughter millions of chickens a month, causing U.S. egg prices to skyrocket. 

The average price of a dozen Grade A eggs in U.S. cities reached $4.95 in January, eclipsing the previous record of $4.82 set two years earlier and more than double the low of $2.04 that was recorded in August 2023. The Agriculture Department predicts prices will soar another 20% this year.

In New York City, where prices are even higher, local bodegas have turned to selling fewer eggs at a time for less money.

Luis Colón, manager of Pamela’s Green Deli in the Bronx, said this is a way of helping the neighborhood and helping the business because customers were simply not buying eggs at all.

Colón told Nexstar’s WPIX that the idea of selling a few eggs at a time — or “loosie” eggs — came to him about two weeks ago.

“A lot of people coming here, bringing one dozen to the counter, ‘How much is it?’ $12. They leave, so we say come back, we have three eggs for $2.99, and it’s better for customers,” he said.

For customer Juan Olivares, buying a carton of 12 eggs is just not affordable.

“I buy it like this, much better. Because the whole thing … $12 is too expensive,” said Olivares.

That’s why Olivares purchased three eggs for $2.99 at Pamela’s. He said the eggs are what his three children will be eating for breakfast in the morning, along with pancakes.

In New York State, eggs must be sold in packages that are labeled with size, count, and grade. Colon showed WPIX how the eggs are sold to customers straight from the packages that are kept in the refrigerator.

“I think it is a good idea,” another customer said. “They are selling it loose because everybody may not have enough money to buy eggs.”

“They gotta get their hustle on too, survival of the fittest,” added another customer.

Luis Hernandez is the supermarket manager across the street from Pamela’s.

“We are not receiving a lot; we ordered 100 cases (of eggs), and they are sending two and five cases,” said Hernandez.

Back at Pamela’s, Colón said allowing customers to buy a few eggs at a time has been nothing but a success.

“The community here, everybody is saying … it’s good, it’s good.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.