PHOENIX-During a press conference held Friday, May 30, Hickman’s Family Farms—the largest egg producer in the Southwest—announced it will halt egg production for nearly two years following a devastating outbreak of avian influenza.
Glenn Hickman, president of the Buckeye-based company, said the outbreak has resulted in the culling of six million chickens over the past two weeks and will lead to hundreds of layoffs as the company works to rebuild its flock.
Despite the scale of the loss, Hickman said he does not expect the situation to cause a significant rise in egg prices nationally. Hickman’s, a third-generation family business in operation for nearly 80 years, remains one of the top 20 egg producers in the United States.
What makes the current outbreak especially alarming, Hickman explained, is the virus’s presence in local wildlife—something not seen in previous infections. According to him, sparrows, mice, and squirrels have all tested positive for avian influenza in the area, suggesting the virus is no longer limited to migratory birds.
That concern is reflected in state-level findings. In a press release issued May 20, 2025, the Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA) confirmed the detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) at a commercial poultry facility in Maricopa County. Birds at the affected site began exhibiting symptoms on May 21, and federal laboratories officially confirmed the infection on May 27. The facility was immediately quarantined, and enhanced biosecurity measures were implemented to prevent further spread.
Officials emphasized that eggs produced after the onset of illness have not entered the food supply, and there have been no reported human cases associated with this outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to assess the risk to the general public as low, with the highest risk limited to individuals with direct contact with infected poultry.
Although an avian flu vaccine exists internationally, it has not been approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for use in chickens within the United States.
The AZDA is working closely with the USDA, the Arizona Department of Health Services, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, and other local agencies to monitor and contain the outbreak. Anyone observing signs of illness in domestic poultry is urged to contact the USDA Sick Bird Hotline at 1-866-536-7593. Concerns about wild bird illness can be directed to the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
Editor’s Note: Arizona residents who raise backyard chickens should keep a close watch on their flocks. With that being said, enjoy your homegrown eggs.
