Christina Tregoning gave her feed cup a gentle shake as she stepped into her spacious backyard in north-central Loveland on Thursday.

“Come here girls, hurry up,” she called, as she tossed seeds in a spray.

Almost instantly, chickens of all shapes and colors started emerging from the corners of the sunny yard, bobbing their heads and clucking as they ran toward the chance of a late morning snack. Soon, Tregoning was surrounded by her friendly flock, including several types of Marans, Turkens (also known as naked-necks), a Leghorn and various hybrid breeds, which she called the “doodles” of the chicken world.

“This lady here is Oshka,” she said as she plucked a brown Maran hen off the ground and showed off her feet. “And she actually has spurs like a rooster. She’s the boss.”

Tregoning has been raising and breeding chickens for most of her life. Oshka is one of around 20 chickens she and her family keep at her home on Jefferson Drive near Horseshoe Lake in a neighborhood technically outside of Loveland city limits.

All of her chickens have names — Ruby, Marshmallow, Hennifer, to list a few — as well as distinct personalities, Tregoning said. The vast majority are hens, except for the lone rooster, a large black copper marans named Azriel.

“He’s covering all of my girls,” Tregoning explained. “Everybody has this hate for roosters, but he’s beautiful and the hens are just as loud. And roosters are very crucial for the dynamic of the flock.”

Thanks to that dynamic, the family’s flock is producing around 18 eggs per day in a rainbow of hues characteristic of the Marans, from deep red, to light blue, to speckled olive.

With a steady egg supply, Tregoning decided last year to share the bounty and start making her beloved flock earn part of their keep. So, she teamed up with a neighbor who also raises chickens to open a small egg stand at the front of Tregoning’s driveway. They charge $6 per dozen and accept payment in cash or via Venmo.

“It wasn’t as popular last year,” Tregoning said. “Now we sell out every single day.”

Demand is spiking at their stand in recent months, as locals seek a reprieve from high egg prices and recent shortages at local grocery stores.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average cost of a dozen grade A large eggs was $5.90 in the U.S. in February, nearly double from the same time in 2024. In Loveland, the lowest cost for a carton is 10% higher than that, averaging around $6.49 at major grocery stores

The nationwide price increase for eggs has been attributed to a dip in supply due to an ongoing outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which has resulted in the loss of more than 30 million chickens in 2025 so far, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s weekly Egg Markets Overview.

In Colorado, prices have also been affected by a new state law requiring all eggs sold to come from cage-free chickens — a shift that, as of March 2024, had been adopted by only about 40% of U.S. producers.

Tregoning is not the only local eager to fill the need for grocery store alternatives. On Thursday, Cindy Roinestad was offering duck eggs for $7 per dozen at Rocky Mountain Antiques on West Eisenhower, where she works a few times per week.

Like Tregoning’s Marans, Roinestad’s three ducks also produce colorful eggs. Unlike chicken eggs, however, duck eggs are around 50% larger, have bigger, richer yolks, and provide more protein and calories.

“Most people don’t know about the benefits of duck eggs,” she said. “So I am trying to get them interested.”

Roinestad has been raising animals including goats, llamas, ducks, chicken and geese at her home west of Loveland for nearly a decade and selling surplus eggs or milk as needed. But she has never seen demand as high as it has been over the last several months. Most days, she brings around 10 dozen duck eggs with her to the antique store and is typically sold out before noon.

“This has been my best year ever for selling,” she said. “And I’m just thrilled I can cover the cost of my feed.”

Roinestad has also noticed that she has a lot more competition this year, at least judging by Facebook announcements, a trend she called “wonderful.”

“There’s plenty of people to buy,” she said. “And I don’t see anyone price gouging.”

Tregoning goes a step further, by periodically selling hatching eggs at $20 per dozen for those hoping to create a flock of their own. She also has a TikTok channel, Salty Farms, where she offers tips and tricks.

But as more people are joining the market, both Tregoning and Roinestad sounded notes of caution about taking up the practice. For one, the city of Loveland has different rules for backyard chickens than Larimer County, including restrictions on roosters and size of the flock.

More importantly, the time and cost of maintaining a flock can add up. In addition to feed, both women also provide medical care to their fowl and have large coops to protect their animals from the elements and potential predators.

“Ours is like the Taj Mahal,” Roinestad said with a laugh. “It’s insulated. You could literally live in it.”

It also takes at least six months for a chick to start producing eggs — a significant investment with no immediate payoff.

“I know a lot of people have been buying the birds, and I just kind of chuckle,” Roinestad said. “If you buy something today, you’re not going to get anything until the end of summer, and, until then, you’re spending money.”

Tregoning recommends that new chicken owners seek out expert guidance when starting, such as the chicken owners workshop being hosted Saturday by Northern Colorado Feeders Supply in Fort Collins.

Still, for her, the time, effort and expense are more than worth it — not only for the extra income, but for the companionship her chickens provide.

“I love them. They’re fun little pets,” she said. “And I like helping the community.”