Eggs: You can have them scrambled, sunny side up, or extra expensive. Moreover, according to The Sydney Morning Herald, we may all be having our eggs pricey-style in the near future. This is because Australia is currently experiencing an egg shortage.
Hold Up, Why Are We In an Egg Shortage?
The Sydney Morning Herald stated that this egg shortage is thanks to COVID. During last year’s exhausting lockdowns, egg producers cut the size of their flocks of laying hens by up to 20 per cent. Now, these producers can’t keep up with the omelette-hungry public.
“We took those eggs out of production and they can’t come back into production,” explained NSW Farmers Federation’s egg committee chair, Brett Langfield. “It takes us about four-and-a-half to five months to get a chick into production.”
However, Brian Ahmed, the Victorian director of Egg Farmers of Australia, told The Guardian that the switch from caged eggs to free-range eggs has caused us some supply issues. He claimed that chickens lay fewer eggs in colder winter temperatures and when there’s less daylight.
It’s worth noting that both of these influences have probably impacted Australia’s egg shortage. As Rowan McMonnies, the managing director of Australian Eggs, said, “There are really a number of factors in play.”
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If You’re an Egg Goblin, Should You Buy Some Chickens?
Unfortunately, not every household is the right one for some chooks. For instance, as much as I would enjoy the pandemonium that bringing a chicken into my two-bedroom Sydney apartment would bring, my fiancée would be less than thrilled.
That being said, if you have the space and your council is chill with it, then getting some chickens might be a smart move. According to Poultry Australia, a day-old chick can cost between $3.00 to $15.00 each, while a young hen is around $35.00. The real cost however is the chicken coop. On My Chicken Coop, they’re currently going between $269.00 and $2,279.00.
That being said, getting some chickens might be the right move for you. To make this flightless dream a reality, you’ll have to check that you have the backyard space for these birds and that your council is chill with your farm animal vibes.
Just as importantly, you’ll need to check if your soil is suitable for chooks. As per The Conversation, some new research has discovered that on average, backyard hens’ eggs contain more than 40 times the lead levels of commercially produced eggs. You can check if your soil is hunky-dory using VegeSafe or a commercial laboratory. Moreover, if your soil isn’t safe, it can be replaced or blocked off from your hens.
Furthermore, getting some chickens can cost a splash of cash. According to Poultry Australia, a day-old chick can cost between $3.00 to $15.00 each, while a young hen is around $35.00. The real cost however is the chicken coop. On My Chicken Coop, they’re currently going between $269.00 and $2,279.00.
Now, all of these responsibilities and costs might have given you the impression that backyard chickens are never worth it. But that just isn’t the case. I’m a country kid, and I will argue that fresh eggs taste far better than any ones you could get from an ALDI. Moreover, if the egg shortage gets worse, you won’t be caught with your metaphorical pants down.
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