Yes, the chickens have come home to roost nationwide — if they could roost in a factory farm system that denies them even basic instincts — and consumers are feeling the pinch. Here’s why.

A highly infectious and deadly strain of avian influenza virus has infected tens of millions of birds across Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. Outbreaks of avian influenza, also known as bird flu, can lead to significant mortality in infected flocks. It also makes every single bird on a property subject to “depopulation,” which is just a clinical way of describing the mass killing and discarding of the remaining animals.

In the United States alone, the bird flu virus has triggered the deaths of more than 50 million domestic chickens since last February. And sadly, the factory farm system, which values profits and volume over everything else — including the welfare of the individual animals trapped in it — is creating ideal conditions for large-scale outbreaks.

It’s common for large egg-producing operations in the U.S. to house hundreds of thousands or even millions of hens. These operations are highly automated and use battery cages or similar types of housing systems to keep the hens confined. These cages are typically small, crowded and may contain up to 10 hens, with each hen having an amount of space equivalent to less than a sheet of letter-sized paper. The hens are unable to express many of their natural behaviors, such as spreading their wings, nesting and perching, and they are subjected to various forms of physical and psychological stress.

Thankfully, California voters approved Proposition 12, which sets minimum standards for the confinement of hens and other farm animals, but with almost 80% of U.S. eggs still produced in the “conventional” way, the demand for cage-free eggs far outstrips what farms can supply.

Whether it’s part of an intention to make more animal-friendly choices or simply to save some money, consider reducing your use of eggs this January and beyond. The Just Egg product mentioned as a punchline in the Chronicle article actually happens to be an excellent alternative, and makes a delicious scramble or omelet. But if commercially available, ready-made substitutions aren’t your thing, there are many alternatives to eggs that can be used in cooking and baking. Some popular options include:

• Banana. Mashed banana can be used as a binding agent in recipes, such as cookies and quick breads.

• Applesauce. Like banana, applesauce can be used as a binding agent and can add moisture to baked goods.

• Flax or chia seeds. Ground flax or chia seeds mixed with water can be used as an egg replacer in recipes.

• Silken tofu. Tofu can be used as a substitute for eggs in recipes like quiches and omelets.

• Aquafaba. The liquid from a can of chickpeas can be whipped and used as an egg replacer in recipes like meringues and mousses.

Keep in mind that egg substitutes may affect the texture and taste of the finished product, so it may be necessary to adjust the recipe or expect a slightly different result.

January is a great month to try new things, so why not make this small change that can help animals every day of the year?

Carina DeVera is the digital marketing manager for Marin Humane, which contributes Tails of Marin articles and welcomes animal-related questions and stories about the people and animals in our community. Go to marinhumane.org, find us on social media @marinhumane, or email lbloch@marinhumane.org.

But a few days later, she started to limp. And even though nothing was obviously wrong with her leg, I immediately suspected the potential culprit. It’s something Marin Humane warns dog guardians about quite frequently: the dreaded foxtail.

Foxtail plants grow in fields, along the side of the road and even in your yard. The trouble starts when the foxtails dry out in spring and summer, changing from green to beige and becoming stiff and sharp.

These pesky, bristly plants grow in abundance throughout California and got their name because of their foxlike tails created by the bristly awns of the plant. Thanks to their spikes, they can easily become entangled in pet fur — but that’s not nearly the worst of it.

Once they’re embedded, foxtails can only move forward because of their barbed shape. This means they can migrate deeper and deeper into your dog’s skin if they aren’t found right away. They also don’t break down in the body so they can lead to abscesses and infections if lodged in the skin or in a paw.

Staying away from grassy areas where foxtails are in abundance is the first step you can take in keeping your dog safe. If you find foxtail plants in your own yard, be sure to pull them right away. But since we know foxtails are fairly unavoidable, there are other things you can do to keep your dog foxtail-free.

When you come home from a hike, do a thorough check of your dog’s body, taking special care to check their nose, eyes, ears and paws. There are some telltale warning signs that your pup’s being bothered by an errant foxtail, so keep an eye out for these:

• Licking or chewing their paw. This can mean a foxtail is lodged between their toes or in a pad.

• Pawing at their ears, eyes or nose. Foxtails can get stuck in all of these sensitive spots.

• Frequent or intense sneezing, or discharge from the nose. Foxtails are easily inhaled when your dog goes about their usual sniffing.

• Discharge and swelling around the eye. Even if you can’t see a foxtail upon first glance, it may have migrated into the eye.

• A head tilt or head shaking. This can be a sign of a foxtail stuck in an ear.

Some dogs can benefit from a mesh hood, such as the OutFox Field Guard. While the hood may look a bit unusual, it keeps your dog’s eyes, nose and ears safely foxtail-free while still allowing them to breathe, sniff, play and even drink like they normally would.

If your dog does end up with an embedded foxtail, a trip to your veterinarian is in order. Waiting will only allow the foxtail to move deeper into the skin, so don’t delay. Your veterinarian will be able to safely remove the pesky awn while also treating any possible infection.

As for our sweet Lily, we were lucky to get her seen at her veterinarian the following day. And indeed, they extracted a bloody foxtail from her paw. A few days of the dreaded cone of shame and a course of antibiotics later, Lily has completely recovered from the ordeal. While it was heartbreaking to see her suffer before (and after) her procedure, I’m grateful we recognized the danger quickly.

Carina DeVera is the digital marketing manager for Marin Humane, which contributes Tails of Marin articles and welcomes animal-related questions and stories about the people and animals in our community. Go to marinhumane.org, find us on social media @marinhumane, or email lbloch@marinhumane.org.

Birds have always been some of my favorite animals. As a child, I had a particular fascination with parrots, but any kind of bird would do. That’s how one fateful day at the library, where I was once again looking for books on birds, I found a volume about chickens. I knew a lot about wild animals and pets, but not about farmed birds. The contents of said chicken book were enough to turn this young teenager into a steadfast vegetarian, and my love for farmed animals only grew over time.

I was thrilled then to finally be in a position to adopt three rescued hens from Animal Place, a Bay Area nonprofit organization that saves commercial layer hens from being killed, or what the chicken producers like to call “depopulated” once their productivity declines even a little.

Luckily for Henrietta, Frida Lays and Poulette, they were among the few that made it to sanctuary instead. And while I won’t pretend my husband doesn’t get excited every time he spots an egg in their nesting box, their worth to us is not based on their productivity or commercial value. Chickens, it must be said, make absolutely wonderful pets. Smart, curious and treat-motivated, they are highly trainable and full of personality. Not to brag, but the trio figured out their treadle feeder (where the chickens have to step on a pedal to lift a lid and access the feed, which is protected from rain and rodents) in four days — well ahead of the manufacturer’s three-week training schedule.

I truly enjoy the time I spend with my chickens. I bought an automatic coop door, which safely tucks the hens in at night  and most importantly, lets them back outside after sunrise while I’m still cozy in bed. While they’re typically quiet, I’ve grown fond of their occasional egg song (a kind of serenade that lasts for only a few minutes) as well as their expectant little clucks whenever they notice me approach.

Before jumping on the backyard chicken bandwagon, however, be sure to research local ordinances pertaining to chickens, as well as your flock’s needs with regards to housing, supplies and veterinary care like you would with any other pet. A major advantage of adopting an adult chicken from your local animal shelter or rescue group is that you’ll know what gender your chicken is. Determining gender in chicks is not always accurate and you might end up with a rooster instead of a hen. While roosters are good for the flock since they serve as protection, many municipalities don’t allow them. Often, when people realize they have roosters on their hands, they abandon them or surrender them to shelters. A great way to avoid this conundrum is to adopt an adult, since you’ll know what you’re getting.

Carina DeVera is the digital marketing manager at Marin Humane, which contributes Tails of Marin articles and welcomes animal-related questions and stories about the people and animals in our community. Go to marinhumane.org, find us on social media @marinhumane, or email lbloch@marinhumane.org.