Free range hens lay less frequently in the winter months because of hormonal changes triggered by the change in weather and shorter daylight hours.

The supply of caged eggs has remained steady as hens in environment and climate-controlled sheds are not influenced by the natural seasonal changes.

But consumers have turned to caged eggs when free range were not available, which has put pressure on supplies in that sector as well.

"It's certainly a challenge at the moment,” Huon Farms Free Range Eggs operator Leanne O’Connell said, “We're keeping up but it's just this time of the year, as always. I'm counting down the days to the solstice, then we should see a bit of a turn." 

Sam Pincott, who operates Holbrook Paddock Eggs with his wife Prue, said production from his Isa Browns was on track but he had noticed a jump in demand.

"We always have our hens young, as any producer does. They come back a little bit but not to bad because we've got them in that first season of laying," Mr Pincott said.

"A lot of it is dictated by day-length hours, so once we get past that shortest day (June 21) in the next week or so, that'll make a difference."

Egg Farmers Australia said consumers could expect shortages to occur annually if current national trends toward free-range don't change.

NSW Farmers egg committee chairman Bede Burke told Fairfax cage production was more reliable than free range but cage egg producers had replaced their cage infrastructure between 2000 and 2010, and the investment would take 10 to 15 years to depreciate before it was renewed or replaced.

He said cage egg consumption in Australia last year grew 3.5 per cent, year-on-year.

"My prediction is, as we move forward with free range systems, and more limited access to control problems we are having, there will be a renewed desire to keep birds indoors, and put birds back on wire again," Mr Burke said.

The industry was also waiting on free range egg legislation before parliament, which limited producers to one hen per square metre and requires birds to have "meaningful and regular access" to the outdoors, before making capital investment decisions.

Mr Pincott – who supplies eggs to Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne as well as to outlets in Wagga, Holbrook and Albury-Wodonga – said it was a positive for the industry that consumers were more informed.

"As long as we all have to declare on our cartoon what our density rates are, and other vital bits of information, then the customers can make their decision at the checkout.”