Backyard chooks in high demand amid statewide egg shortage

Backyard chooks are back in high demand, sparked by a WA-wide shortage of eggs which has emptied supermarket shelves and the introduction of sale restrictions.

Sellers of young chickens have reported a surge in demand for the birds, as well as poultry feed products.

They put the increased popularity down to the scarcity of eggs in major supermarkets after extreme flooding in central Australia led to disruptions in the freight transport network, limiting the amount of goods coming into WA.

WA’s commercial egg industry produces about 42 million dozen eggs a year but that meets only 80 per cent of demand. Afurther 8 million dozen are normally imported each year from the east coast.

Commercial Egg Producers Association president Ian Wilson said there had been a surge in demand for pullets (young egg-laying chickens) in recent weeks, albeit to a lesser extent than when COVID first emerged in 2020.

“As soon as people see stock levels fall on supermarket shelves, they look to get their own egg-laying chickens. There’s a definite increase in interest,” he said.

Ray Orr, owner of the Jandakot Stock and Pet supplies, said he had noticed a big uptick in demand.

His supply of young hens for February had sold out and his March delivery had already been pre-sold. There was also an increase in demand for feed products.

Chickens are still available for sale via Gumtree, with prices ranging from $15 for a fully-vaccinated Isa Brown hen, to $60 for a Heritage cross breed.

Mr Wilson, who runs the Fremantle Egg Co, said the WA commercial egg industry was already operating at capacity and was unable to ramp up production to plug the egg shortfall that is gripping supermarkets, alongside other items including flour, eggs, pasta, paper towels, frozen fruit and vegetables, and frozen chips.

“All egg producers are receiving a lot of phone calls at the moment from the various outlets wanting to get more supply,” he said.