If you’ve been to the grocery store lately, you’ve probably had a mild heart attack at the chicken counter. What used to be the budget-friendly protein option now seems to cost as much as gold-plated nuggets! I’ve been hearing from so many of our readers asking “what’s the deal with these crazy chicken prices?” and honestly, I’ve been wondering the same thing
Let’s dive into the reasons behind this poultry price predicament that’s emptying our wallets in 2025.
The Current Chicken Price Situation
As of July 2025, the average cost of fresh, whole chicken has reached an all-time high of $2.09 per pound according to recent consumer price index data. That’s a significant jump from previous years! Wholesale boneless, skinless chicken breasts have soared to $2.75 per pound compared to $1.75 per pound just a year ago.
What’s even more shocking is that chicken prices have continued their upward climb alongside beef, which has surged approximately 14% year-over-year. The days of chicken being the affordable meat option might be behind us for now.
Major Factors Driving Up Chicken Prices
1. Supply Chain Challenges
The chicken industry has faced multiple supply chain disruptions over the past few years that continue to impact prices today:
- Labor Shortages: Processing plants simply can’t find enough workers, which limits how much chicken can be processed
- Transportation Issues: Rising fuel costs and logistics problems make moving chicken from farm to store more expensive
- Packaging Costs: Everything from cardboard to plastic wrap costs more now, adding to the final price
As David Anderson, an AgriLife Extension economist at Bryan-College Station in Texas, explained, “There is a lot of chicken being produced, but we are seeing restaurants that aren’t getting as much supply as they want to get.”
2. Feed Costs Have Skyrocketed
Chicken feed primarily consists of corn and soybean meal, and prices for these ingredients have been on a roller coaster:
- Drought conditions in major growing regions
- Global grain market disruptions
- Higher transportation and processing costs for feed
When it costs more to feed chickens, those costs inevitably get passed on to consumers It’s a direct line from feed prices to chicken prices
3. The Avian Flu Factor
In early 2025, tens of millions of birds were affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza across 39 states, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data. When outbreaks occur, entire flocks often need to be destroyed, which immediately reduces supply.
Though the number of cases has decreased since the peak in early 2025 (with less than 350,000 U.S. birds affected by June, concentrated in just Arizona and Idaho), the impact on the supply chain continues to reverberate.
4. Shifting Consumer Demand
An interesting twist in the chicken saga involves changing consumer preferences:
- Restaurant Reopenings: As restaurants fully reopened post-pandemic, demand for specific chicken cuts (especially breasts) exploded
- Health-Conscious Consumers: More people choosing chicken as a leaner protein option
- Fast Food Chicken Wars: The competition between fast food chains for chicken sandwiches has increased demand for breast meat
Craig Coufal, an AgriLife Extension poultry specialist, noted: “The birds that meet the demand for chicken strips and sandwiches and processed nuggets are much bigger, and it can take some time to shift production.”
5. Tariffs and International Trade Factors
Recent tariffs have affected the chicken market as well. With import taxes on multiple countries that supply food products to the U.S., international chicken has become more expensive. Economists attribute the general 2.7% rise in consumer prices partly to these sweeping tariffs pushing costs skyward.
Regional Variations in Chicken Prices
The pain isn’t felt equally across the country. Some regions have been hit harder than others:
- Weather-Impacted Areas: Regions affected by hurricanes, drought, or winter storms see temporary but significant price spikes
- Urban vs. Rural: Metropolitan areas often see higher markup on chicken products
- Local Producer Access: Areas with more local producers might experience slightly lower prices
When Will Chicken Prices Go Down?
Unfortunately, I don’t have a crystal ball (wish I did!), but industry experts suggest several factors that could eventually provide relief:
- Production Increases: Poultry producers are “cranking out as many chickens as they can,” according to Coufal, but it takes time for chicks to grow into market-ready broilers
- Feed Price Stabilization: Any normalization in grain markets would help reduce production costs
- Labor Market Improvements: As processing plants address staffing challenges, bottlenecks may ease
Budget-Friendly Alternatives While We Wait
While we’re all hoping for chicken prices to come back down to earth, here are some ways to cope:
- Look for sales and stock up your freezer when prices dip
- Consider less popular cuts like thighs and drumsticks, which often cost less than breasts
- Explore other protein sources like beans, lentils, or eggs
- Buy whole chickens and learn to break them down yourself (it’s easier than you think!)
- Join a poultry CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) for more direct pricing
The Backyard Chicken Trend
Interestingly, the high chicken prices have contributed to a surge in backyard chicken keeping. Alan Nieder, who runs Heartland Hatchery near Amsterdam, Missouri, has seen his hatchery steadily growing as more families expand their flocks.
“My expenses are through the roof,” Nieder said in an interview. “We haven’t raised our prices this year, but we will next year if grain prices stay as high as it is.”
Families like Lori Cox’s have turned to keeping chickens, ducks, and turkeys. Cox mentioned it’s mostly a hobby, but the eggs are also nice: “It’s good to know they’re there if we can’t get to the grocery store for some reason.”
What’s Next for Chicken Prices?
The complex interplay of factors affecting chicken prices suggests we’re not likely to see immediate relief. The chicken industry is working to adapt, but structural changes take time.
As Anderson from AgriLife Extension pointed out: “The thing is that chickens just have two legs, two breasts, two thighs and two wings. It just takes time to produce more chicken.”
Final Thoughts
We’re all feeling the pinch of higher chicken prices in 2025. The convergence of supply chain issues, avian flu, increased demand, and rising input costs has created the perfect storm for poultry pricing.
For now, the best approach is to shop smarter, be flexible with your protein choices, and maybe even consider if those backyard chickens are right for you! (Though I tried that once and my neighbors weren’t thrilled with the 5 AM wake-up calls…)
Have you found any creative ways to deal with high chicken prices? Drop us a comment below – we’d love to hear your strategies!
This article was last updated on August 30, 2025, with the most current information available on chicken prices and market conditions.
Chickens return to normal
Craig Coufal, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension poultry specialist, Bryan-College Station, said short supplies have mostly to do with poultry production returning to normal levels and the time it will take to meet pre-pandemic supply demands.
The more people return to restaurants, travel and “get out of the house,” the more chicken they are likely to eat, Coufal said.
“The birds that were being grown during the pandemic were grown smaller because they were going to end up in grocery stores,” he said. “The birds that meet the demand for chicken strips and sandwiches and processed nuggets are much bigger, and it can take some time to shift production. It will happen, but it may take some time.”
Coufal said poultry producers are cranking out as many chickens as they can to meet erupting demand. But it takes fertilized eggs to produce chicks, which take time to become broilers that are ready for processing.
Why Is Chicken Getting so Expensive?
FAQ
Why are chicken prices rising at the grocery store?
AMSTERDAM, Mo. (KCTV) – You may have noticed an increase in chicken prices at the grocery store lately. The USDA Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook for May 2022 noted that poultry production nationwide has steadily increased following supply chain disruptions during the pandemic. But, so have prices.
Why are chicken prices so high in Texas?
You can find her on LinkedIn. Poultry prices, especially prices for chicken breasts, have skyrocketed due to surging demand, tighter supplies and a transitioning supply chain, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts.
Why are chicken prices so low compared to last year?
Cold storage supplies of chicken are also down 200 million pounds, roughly 20%, compared to last year, which further tightens the supply side. “Low prices and lower production were a reaction to last year, and now demand is high because there is a feeling that we’re returning to normal,” Anderson said.
Why have chicken prices remained stable?
Those 13 million broiler chickens represent just .0005% of broiler production over the same period, Super said. In other words: Chicken prices have remained stable because broiler producers have had an easier time keeping up with demand.
Why did chicken prices go up during the reopening?
Poultry companies struggled to find profits as closures impacted restaurants, a major destination for various chicken cuts. But the subsequent economic reopening and growth has caused tight supplies and rising prices for chicken breasts, which consumers find in a variety of forms and places, Anderson said.
Why are egg prices so high in grocery stores?
Grocery stores and restaurants have seen their egg costs rise from $2.25 per dozen last fall to a record $6 or $7 today, with organic and specialty eggs reaching even higher prices. Grocery stores use eggs as “loss leaders,” discounting egg prices in order to attract customers who then spend more on other products with higher profit margins.
Why is chicken getting so expensive?
Chicken prices aren’t currently surging, with reports indicating stability or only slight increases, though specific cuts and market conditions can vary. The primary drivers for past price increases included a substantial decrease in chicken supply due to the widespread avian flu outbreak impacting egg-laying hens, coupled with the rise in costs for chicken feed like corn and soybeans. Strong overall demand, especially for different chicken cuts, also plays a role in keeping prices high, especially in the restaurant industry.
Why is chicken so expensive right now in 2025?
Why is there a chicken shortage?
Are chicken prices going up due to bird flu?
Ortega’s team studied how highly pathogenic bird flu influenced poultry prices from 2005 to 2023, namely, the cost of chicken meat, eggs, and turkey. All of these prices rose during outbreaks, the researchers reported last summer in Poultry Science, but the price effect on eggs was more intense.