Cal-Maine Foods has found itself in hot water with the DOJ for supposedly scrambling prices, as a bird flu epidemic and skyrocketing egg sales lead to a yolk-splitting 4% drop in its shares.

The U.S. Department of Justice is probing Cal-Maine Foods for potential price-fixing as egg prices soar to unprecedented heights—clucking up a perfect storm with over 166 million birds culled due to bird flu. While Cal-Maine's sales nearly doubled to $1.42 billion this fiscal third quarter, the company's shares took a hit and its record net income of $508.5 million didn’t hatch the confidence analysts had hoped for, raising serious questions about whether they were really just egg-cellent business strategists or simply scrambling to keep up.

In February, the price of a dozen Grade A eggs reached an average of $5.90—nearly 10.4% higher than the previous year. This price spike has caused quite the flap in American households, leading consumers to question if they inadvertently started funding a poultry mafia. These outrageous costs have turned simple breakfast choices into a luxury item, leaving many at the grocery store pondering whether they should just invest in a hen instead.

Cal-Maine Foods, responsible for about 20% of the nation's egg supply, has seen its ship sail in various directions. On one hand, they sold a record 331.4 million dozen eggs in the third quarter—a 10% increase from the same period last year. On the other, their decision to raise prices amid soaring demand has sparked suspicions of antitrust behavior. After all, when you’re the kingpin in an industry, the scrutiny tends to get a bit... scrambled.

All panic aside, Cal-Maine is cooperating with the DOJ's investigation, which came just last month. The antitrust division of the DOJ has been tightening its focus on anticompetitive conduct in U.S. consumer markets, throwing a spotlight on companies like Cal-Maine that may be putting the squeeze on a staple supply. Perhaps they thought they were above the law just because they were riding the crest of a golden egg wave.

Despite the negative attention, Cal-Maine’s financial performance this year would lead any investor to believe it’s hatching a new strategy. With egg prices averaging $4.06 per dozen during their fiscal third quarter compared to $2.25 one year prior, the market certainly isn't suffering from a shortage of revenue. But, here’s the twist—a net income that tripled to $508.5 million didn’t meet analysts’ forecasts. It's almost as if the industry insiders expected Cal-Maine to be throwing down profits like an Easter egg hunt gone wild.

The company’s soaring profits, in light of recent price hikes, have left consumers shaking their heads. Many have begun questioning whether these prices are justified or simply the result of opportunistic price augmentation. Recent shifts in egg prices have been attributed to weaker demand and fewer bird flu cases, but wholesale costs remain 60% higher than they were a year ago. It begs the question: are consumers truly willing to pay this much for protein on their breakfast plates, or is it a sign that the hen is getting too cozy in its roost?

In an age where consumers feel the crunch, some people believe it’s not just egg prices that have scrambled, but also the moral fiber within corporate America. While only time will tell what the DOJ’s investigation will uncover, one thing is evident: it’s a fragile market and a competitive environment where a flurry of price increases could lead to some angry investors plotting their own revenge, preferably not in the form of an omelet.