DistantNews
Support us
🇦🇺 Australia /Health & Science

Backyard hen boom on the cards amid bird flu fears, seller says

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Demand for backyard hens is expected to surge due to fears of bird flu impacting supermarket egg supplies.
  • While the poultry industry has no reported cases, over 300 infection events have been recorded nationally.
  • Experts advise backyard chicken owners to monitor their flocks closely and report any concerns to authorities to prevent further spread.

The Australian poultry industry is bracing for a potential surge in demand for backyard hens, driven by concerns over the spread of the H5 bird flu and its possible impact on supermarket egg supplies. Although the commercial poultry sector has not reported any bird flu cases, the federal Agriculture Department has recorded over 300 infection events across the country.

I think there'll be a surge even greater than the COVID experience

— Kate GrealyKate Grealy, founder of the Sunshine Coast poultry market, predicts a significant increase in demand for backyard hens.

Rowan McMonnies, managing director of Australian Eggs, expressed confidence in Australia's ability to limit the impact of the flu, despite acknowledging it would likely remain active in the country for the medium term. However, Kate Grealy, founder of the Sunshine Coast poultry market, anticipates a demand spike even greater than that seen during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.

People were looking at food security and things that they could do on a small scale to be more self-sustainable.

— Kate GrealyKate Grealy explains the motivations behind the increased interest in backyard chickens during the pandemic.

Grealy noted that during the pandemic, people sought food security and self-sufficiency through backyard chickens. She believes ongoing discussions about bird flu could reignite this interest, especially given the awareness that the egg industry can face complete shutdowns, leading to empty shelves. She stated, "The risk of not being able to buy them is real."

I think people are aware of the fact [the egg industry] can be just a complete shutdown and the shelves will be empty.

— Kate GrealyKate Grealy highlights the public's awareness of potential disruptions to the egg supply chain.

While the risk of transmission to backyard chickens is generally low, experts advise owners to remain vigilant. Victoria's agriculture department suggests monitoring flocks is crucial. University of Sydney poultry health lecturer Jose Quinteros emphasized the importance of owners reporting any concerns to authorities immediately to prevent the virus from spreading further among wild birds and other poultry. Chickens can contract the H5 avian flu through contact with wild bird droppings or contaminated food and water sources.

That risk of not being able to buy them is real.

— Kate GrealyKate Grealy emphasizes the tangible risk of egg shortages.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog