A perfect storm of a pandemic, tough economic conditions and soaring grain prices from war-torn Ukraine is taking eggs off our menus.

Supermarket shelves across the country are empty and some are limiting customers to two cartons each.

A ban on battery-caged hens, announced in 2012, comes into effect on Saturday.

Michael Brooks from the Egg Producers Federation told Tim Beveridge that flock numbers have dropped by two hundred thousand and even dozens of free range egg farms have flown the coop.

He says the lingering effects of Covid, where farmers couldn't sell in markets or cafes, are also taking its toll on producer numbers.

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