Backyard hen demand may surge as bird-flu worries loom over Australian eggs

Sunshine Coast poultry market founder Kate Grealy predicts a surge in backyard hen sales as the H5 bird-flu threat raises worries about the stability of supermarket egg stocks. Although Australian poultry farms remain free of confirmed infections, the federal Agriculture Department has recorded more than 300 bird-flu incidents across the country. Australian Eggs managing director Rowan McMonnies acknowledged the virus’s destructive impact elsewhere and warned it could linger in Australia for the medium term.

Grealy noted that the pandemic sparked interest in self-sufficiency, and she expects current discussions about flu to reignite that trend. Experts such as University of Sydney lecturer Jose Quinteros advise owners to monitor flocks closely and keep chickens enclosed to reduce exposure to wild birds. Local councils are also dealing with unintended consequences, like abandoned roosters, as more residents take up backyard poultry keeping.