TOILET paper and hand sanitiser shortages have been well-documented, but there's been another big seller in Bathurst since coronavirus concerns hit.
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Chooks.
The birds have been flying out the door at Bedwells Feed Barn as locals look for ways to produce food in their backyards.
READ ALSO: Bedwells Feed Barn set to move to a new site
"Ever since it got serious with COVID-19, I think people are trying to be more self-sufficient," Bedwells manager Kate Campbell said.
"We sold our last 50 [chooks] in the first week and then we got another 300 in at 9am not last week but the week before and they were sold by 11am.
"We've got another 500 coming by Wednesday morning [this morning] and I'd say they will all be sold on Wednesday."
By comparison, Bedwells - whose slogan is "Yep, got chooks" - normally sells around 500 of the birds every three months.
Those buying the chooks are of a like mind, according to Ms Campbell: they want to produce eggs.
But she said backyard chooks have more benefits than providing part of a cooked breakfast.
"They are good pets; good for kids," she said. "They eat your scraps and eat the bugs in the garden."
Fairfax Media reported last week that poultry farms in Sydney's north west outskirts were run off their feet trying to keep up with demand.
One operation had sold four months' worth of chickens in a fortnight.
The Land newspaper has also reported a surge in sales for chicken producers.
