Farmers in Australia produce 183 million eggs daily 668 billion yearly but customers in the supermarkets have noticed the product is in short supply and prices have risen.

The industry does not expect that to change for the next few years.

Tens of thousands of birds have had to be culled across a series of large farms in Victoria due to Avian Influenza leading to an egg shortage that is severely affecting many food businesses.

But one local farmer says that the egg shortage has flipped the switch on demand for his product.

Gilgranda chook farmer Ian Freeth is popular around markets across the Western Plans and Central West.

His business is selling laying hens and he says there has been a dramatic upswing in demand for free range eggs, with official figures indicating a 57% increase.

‘’Free range is taking up the slack over Caged Eggs which is suffering a major shortage,’’ Mr Freeth said.

‘’Free range is taking up the slack.’’

The classic egg producer, the Isa Brown, is having her day in the sun. IMAGE: Central West Poultry

His business, Central West Poultry, is booming with interest in Hens at an all time high.

‘’Absolutely unbelievable, I will sell almost 7,000 hens out of our farm on the Collie Road in the next few weeks.’’ Mr Freeth said.

He has praised authorities like Eggs Australia and Eggs Farmers Australia for keeping the nation safe in an effort to get the industry back on track.

‘’If the Avian Influenzia strain got here the industry of hard working farmers would be decimated and eggs supply would got even worse.’’

‘’But I think things are optimistic out here and free range interest is surging in supermarkets, we are upbeat. ‘’ he said.