Egg Prices Soar As Farmers Cite Shortage Of Day-Old Chicks
Farmers Link Egg Scarcity to Chick Supply Crisis
POULTRY farmers have attributed the rising cost and growing scarcity of eggs in Nigeria to a shortage of day-old chicks (DOCs), a key input in egg production.
At the farm gate, a crate of eggs now sells for about ₦5,500, up from ₦5,000 recorded in January. Prices rise further along the supply chain, with retailers selling between ₦6,000 and ₦6,500 depending on egg size, while supermarkets and large grocery outlets charge as much as ₦7,000 to ₦8,500 per crate.
The Chairman of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Lagos State chapter, Mojeed Iyiola, said the situation is largely driven by the unavailability of chicks needed to replenish aging poultry stock.
Declining Supply of Layers
According to Iyiola, many poultry farmers have already sold off older laying birds but are unable to replace them due to supply constraints.
He noted that hatcheries across the country are fully booked, leaving farmers unable to secure new DOCs until later in the year. Even intervention efforts by PAN at the national level have yet to resolve the bottleneck.
The shortage has slowed the replenishment cycle in poultry farms, directly affecting egg production volumes nationwide.
Rising Costs and Long Wait Times
The cost of day-old chicks has also surged significantly, nearly doubling from about ₦1,800 last year to ₦3,300 currently.
Beyond the higher purchase price, farmers face extended waiting periods of up to five or six months after booking before receiving supplies. Once delivered, the chicks require an additional four to five months of rearing before they begin laying eggs.
This prolonged production cycle, combined with rising input costs, has compounded the pressure on egg supply and pricing.
Outlook for Consumers
Industry stakeholders warn that unless the supply of DOCs improves, egg prices may continue to climb in the coming months.
For consumers already grappling with inflation, the development adds to concerns over food affordability, as eggs remain one of the most accessible sources of protein in Nigerian households.
