Pullet sector facing crisis as rearers warn prices must rise

The pressure facing pullet rearers and hatcheries is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. While egg prices have improved significantly over the past 12 months, allowing many producers to return to more sustainable trading conditions, the same recovery has not filtered back through the supply chain.

Industry discussions are now suggesting pullet prices could rise towards £6.50 per bird as chick prices alone are expected to increase by around 30p.

Yet, in this month’s costings by free range egg magazine The Ranger, pullets remain listed at £5.74, unchanged from the previous edition, with standard vaccination costs adding a further 24p to give a total pullet cost of approximately £6.00 per bird.

One pullet rearer, who wished to remain anonymous, said it was now “inevitable” that pullet prices would have to increase.

They warned that if chick prices rise by the expected 30p, then the base pullet price — before any additional vaccinations — would need to increase to around £6.50 per bird.

However, rearers argue that the issue is no longer simply about rising production costs.

Increasingly, they say it has become a question of market forces and opportunity cost, with breeder companies able to place birds into alternative systems, including barn production, where stronger returns are currently available.

Some within the sector warn that by failing to improve returns for breeder flocks and pullet production, the industry is effectively encouraging more movement into barn systems instead.

Rearers argue this risks creating a damaging cycle for the free range sector by reducing future pullet availability while increasing the supply of lower-cost barn eggs onto the market.

Equally, pullet rearers already possess valuable poultry housing infrastructure which could be redirected into other poultry sectors if margins remain unattractive.

The rearer said that unless pullet pricing reflects current market realities, there is little incentive to continue taking on the financial risk and long-term commitment associated with rearing pullets.

The anonymous rearer also warned that some operators were already considering alternative enterprises if returns from pullet rearing fail to improve.

In their own case, they said switching into broiler production was becoming an increasingly realistic option if margins continue to lag behind other poultry sectors.

Industry figures warn that if this sentiment spreads more widely, further rearing capacity could be lost, placing even greater pressure on already limited pullet availability.

The comments come at a time when pullet availability remains extremely tight, with producers reporting they are unable to secure birds until late 2027 and, in some cases, into 2028.

Despite the shortage, rearers argue pricing has failed to respond in the way normally expected under such supply conditions.

Breeder companies and pullet rearers are understood to be increasingly frustrated by the current market situation, arguing returns elsewhere in the sector are now considerably more attractive.

With strong egg demand and continued expansion in some barn systems, breeders have alternative markets available where margins may be higher.

Rearers also point out that poultry housing can easily be redirected into other enterprises if pullet rearing no longer delivers acceptable returns.

One hatchery source said they had already recently lost four breeder flocks from the system and warned the current situation was “no longer sustainable” if the sector continued to expect breeder and rearing capacity to absorb ongoing pressure without meaningful market correction.

The problem is also becoming increasingly complicated because of the large volume of forward bookings already placed by producers.

Many rearers are now warning that existing orders booked into 2026, 2027 and even 2028 may ultimately require additional surcharges if market conditions continue tightening further.

Some within the sector are comparing the situation to fuel surcharges previously introduced in haulage and logistics during periods of exceptional volatility.

Similar adjustment mechanisms have also been seen in feed, fertiliser and wider agricultural supply contracts where long-term forward pricing no longer reflects current market conditions.

Rearers warn that unless prices are adjusted to reflect changing market conditions, similar surcharge mechanisms may become unavoidable even on birds already committed under forward agreements.

While some within the sector acknowledge that a 50p per bird surcharge is unlikely to make pullets unaffordable given current egg returns, they warn it should serve as a reminder that producers cannot necessarily relax simply because birds have already been forward booked at current prices.

British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA) costings show that a 50p per bird surcharge on a 32,000-bird unit would add approximately £16,000 to the cost of a flock, underlining the potential financial impact future pullet price increases could have on producers with forward-booked orders.

Several within the sector believe the shortage of pullets now being experienced is a direct consequence of the industry failing to send realistic market signals further back up the supply chain.

With availability already stretching into late 2027 and even 2028, many are questioning whether prices should have moved much sooner to encourage continued investment and protect future supply.

Industry sources argue that maintaining long-term British egg production will depend not only on sustainable returns at egg level, but also on ensuring hatcheries, breeder operations and pullet rearers remain commercially viable.