Other users observed reduced egg sections at supermarkets, and said they’re easier to find in some places more than others.

Empty egg shelves at a Coles store in Sydney earlier this month. Source: SBS News / Cecilia Lindgren

For Victorian farmer Josh Murray, who is the founder of Josh’s Rainbow Eggs, there is “absolutely” a shortage. He said his delivery team is entering stores and finding “the shelves are empty”.

“It seems to be something that is ongoing across Australia right now,” he said.

Why is there an egg shortage?

“There’s the initial shock and difficulty that comes with, ‘okay we have to clear this farm out, empty the shed and sit tight for a while’,” he said, adding the process of returning to production has also been lengthy.

“We’ve been making tougher decisions … how can we make sure we’re where we need to be to make sure the stores are staying full and the customers are satisfied?

How are supermarkets responding?

“In the meantime, the egg industry is working to boost supply marketwide,” they told SBS News.

“To find out about the current availability of eggs, we recommend that shoppers check with their local store,” they said.

Where should I look for eggs?

He encouraged consumers to go local if they can, by checking out farmers markets, grocers or butchers.

When will egg supply return to ‘normal’?

Murray believes conditions are improving and farms should repopulate over the course of this year. He hopes things will be “fairly close to normal” by mid-2024.