Australia sees rising demand for backyard chickens

Egg shortages have left many Australians searching for alternatives to fill their omelet needs. After a year of seeing empty shelves at supermarkets, more people are turning to backyard chicken farming. The egg shortages stem from severe bird flu outbreaks that decreased Australia's egg-laying flock by about 10 percent. Additionally, the transition from caged to free-range egg production has disrupted supply. Prices have increased significantly, with the cost of a dozen eggs rising 16 percent since early 2020. Many farmers are reporting a surge in demand for older chickens. For example, Phil and Angela Glover, Tasmanian farmers, quickly sold out their older free-range hens after announcing they had a thousand available. They received so many inquiries that they had to manage traffic to their farm. As egg shortages continue, regions like the Northern Territory are particularly affected. This area currently lacks any commercial egg production, so local supermarkets have gone without eggs for weeks. However, construction has started on the Territory's first egg farm in decades, which aims to produce free-range eggs for local consumers. Darren Letton, who operates a farm in South Australia, serves as the main supplier of laying hens for the Northern Territory. He has seen his customer orders nearly double since he began selling chickens. Without even promoting his business this year, he has already received numerous advance requests. For those unable to find eggs, there are alternatives. Jennifer Thompson from the Alternative Proteins Council suggests options like chickpea water, chia seeds, and various starches as substitutes for eggs in recipes. Additionally, emerging technologies in food production could soon offer cell-cultured egg products, providing more solutions for those facing shortages.