As many supermarket shelves remain empty for the second week in New Zealand after a ban on battery cages, animal welfare campaigners are encouraging people&nbsp;not to rush out and buy chickens in response to a countrywide egg shortage. From 1 January, 2023, cages—which were deemed harmful to the health and welfare of the birds—were prohibited. In 2012, when 86 per cent of layer hens were raised in battery cages, the government pledged to outlaw them. That proportion had decreased to 10 per cent&nbsp;by December 2022, as reported by the Guardian.&nbsp;

The chicken-egg problem, however, might take months to resolve, according to egg producers who claim they&nbsp;are still hundreds of thousands of chickens&nbsp;short of meeting market demand.

Purchase limits and empty shelves at the supermarkets have apparently prompted dreams of backyard farming for some. Searches on New Zealand’s largest online auction and classifieds site for chickens and “chicken-related items” jumped 77 per cent&nbsp;to 32,800 in the past seven days compared with the week before, said Trade Me spokesperson James Ryan who spoke to the Guardian.&nbsp;

Also watch |&nbsp;Is the future of award ceremonies gender-neutral?

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According to the SPCA, anyone thinking of keeping chickens would need to commit to a flock of at least three since they are sociable creatures. They would also need to give a clean cage, adequate room, veterinary care, high-quality food, and clean water. In addition, owners must adhere to the many municipal council ordinances and licences that apply to raising chickens around the nation.

As per the Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand has 3.9 million chickens for egg production. On the Egg Producers Federation of New Zealand website, it is said that retail sales of eggs are valued at more than NZ$286 million, however, the export value for the year ending June 2022 was around NZ$18 million (£9 million).

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/americas/mental-health-blogger-from-cornwall-beth-matthews-dies-after-consuming-toxic-substance-purchased-online-550957">Mental health blogger from Cornwall, Beth Matthews, dies after consuming toxic substance purchased online</a>

In the months preceding the ban on battery cages, the controversy over the country's egg supply grew in severity. Despite a 10-year notice of the prohibition, egg farmers warned of shortages, and some animal rights groups criticized&nbsp;the policy for not outright banning cage farming, as the European Union plans to do by 2027.

The legislation in New Zealand still allows colony cages, which can hold up to 60 hens and provide the animals more room than battery enclosures.

The state's leading supermarkets recently agreed to voluntarily stop selling colony eggs by 2027, but egg producers claimed some farms had already transitioned from the battery to colony cages, spending millions of dollars on the process, while others had quit the business altogether.

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As many supermarket shelves remain empty for the second week in New Zealand after a ban on battery cages, animal welfare campaigners are encouraging people not to rush out and buy chickens in response to a countrywide egg shortage.

As many supermarket shelves remain empty for the second week in New Zealand after a ban on battery cages, animal welfare campaigners are encouraging people not to rush out and buy chickens in response to a countrywide egg shortage. From 1 January, 2023, cages—which were deemed harmful to the health and welfare of the birds—were prohibited. In 2012, when 86 per cent of layer hens were raised in battery cages, the government pledged to outlaw them. That proportion had decreased to 10 per cent by December 2022, as reported by the Guardian. The chicken-egg problem, however, might take months to resolve, according to egg producers who claim they are still hundreds of thousands of chickens short of meeting market demand. Purchase limits and empty shelves at the supermarkets have apparently prompted dreams of backyard farming for some. Searches on New Zealand’s largest online auction and classifieds site for chickens and “chicken-related items” jumped 77 per cent to 32,800 in the past seven days compared with the week before, said Trade Me spokesperson James Ryan who spoke to the Guardian. Also watch | Is the future of award ceremonies gender-neutral? According to the SPCA, anyone thinking of keeping chickens would need to commit to a flock of at least three since they are sociable creatures. They would also need to give a clean cage, adequate room, veterinary care, high-quality food, and clean water. In addition, owners must adhere to the many municipal council ordinances and licences that apply to raising chickens around the nation. As per the Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand has 3.9 million chickens for egg production. On the Egg Producers Federation of New Zealand website, it is said that retail sales of eggs are valued at more than NZ$286 million, however, the export value for the year ending June 2022 was around NZ$18 million (£9 million). Also read | Mental health blogger from Cornwall, Beth Matthews, dies after consuming toxic substance purchased online In the months preceding the ban on battery cages, the controversy over the country's egg supply grew in severity. Despite a 10-year notice of the prohibition, egg farmers warned of shortages, and some animal rights groups criticized the policy for not outright banning cage farming, as the European Union plans to do by 2027. The legislation in New Zealand still allows colony cages, which can hold up to 60 hens and provide the animals more room than battery enclosures. The state's leading supermarkets recently agreed to voluntarily stop selling colony eggs by 2027, but egg producers claimed some farms had already transitioned from the battery to colony cages, spending millions of dollars on the process, while others had quit the business altogether. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

New Zealand's egg shortage prompts SPCA warning on chicken ownership

France has culled 600,000 to 650,000 chickens, ducks and other poultry over the past month, officials said Friday, in a race to contain a bird flu virus threatening to become the fourth major outbreak in the country since 2015.

France culls over 600,000 poultry birds to contain bird flu virus threatening major outbreak

Israel is also facing a double wammy. There's a serious outbreak of avian flu that has been reported in Israel. Authorities have warned of an egg shortage due to the culling of poultry birds that is being done to stop the flu.

Poultry birds culled in order to stop avian flu spread in Israel

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