Chicken Prices??? I don't understand

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foamheart

Gone but not forgotten. RIP
Original poster
OTBS Member
I don't understand. It just doesn't make sense. What's the deal with chicken prices?

I know, I know, its all a local thing and is influenced by supply and demand with some few external modifiers.

Let me explain what I am seeing.

They have slowly but surely driven the poultry prices up here with the explanation of gas prices, bird flu, etc etc etc...... Now a stupid chicken is/was almost 1.70/lb. That's ridiculous. But it was holding. Even on sale it was a few weeks ago 1.25/lb. (My Mom was rolling over in her grave). 

Week before last they dropped to 1.00/lb. Last week they dropped to .80/lb., Yesterdays grocery sales had 'em at .27/lb..

So in a little over a month the price of poultry have gone from 1.70 to .27/lb.

Ok, what I didn't say was the last price was for a family pack of hind quarters, but....... the rest was all prices for whole chickens.

What's going on? 
 
 
I don't understand. It just doesn't make sense. What's the deal with chicken prices?

I know, I know, its all a local thing and is influenced by supply and demand with some few external modifiers.

Let me explain what I am seeing.

They have slowly but surely driven the poultry prices up here with the explanation of gas prices, bird flu, etc etc etc...... Now a stupid chicken is/was almost 1.70/lb. That's ridiculous. But it was holding. Even on sale it was a few weeks ago 1.25/lb. (My Mom was rolling over in her grave). 

Week before last they dropped to 1.00/lb. Last week they dropped to .80/lb., Yesterdays grocery sales had 'em at .27/lb..

So in a little over a month the price of poultry have gone from 1.70 to .27/lb.

Ok, what I didn't say was the last price was for a family pack of hind quarters, but....... the rest was all prices for whole chickens.

What's going on? 
A couple of really busy Roosters 

Richie

laugh1.gif
 ROFLMAO
 
Maybe it is Fuel costs...Last month Central Jersey gas prices hovered around $2.54/Gal. This month $1.99 is high.

Grilling season is over, Fryer/Broilers, 3 to 4 pounds, less in demand. While boneless skinless Breasts are always popular and expensive, Wings are going to be in demand for the next several months. Got to do something with all them Leg portions. Buffalo Thighs are just as tasty as Wings...JJ
 
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I think JJ hit the nail in the head. The seasonal demand for certain cuts is changing and so the prices change with it. You can't slaughter only part of a chicken (at least not that I know of.....).

As for eggs, even with gas prices dropping in florida and chicken prices staying the same or dropping, egg prices are still rising. We eat brown eggs and they are over $4 a dozen (and that's just plain old brown eggs not free range or organic). It's getting so bad that I am really considering getting some backyard chickens. Sure I don't technically meet the zoning requirements but I don't think my neighbors will care so long as I keep them stocked with fresh eggs. 
 
JJ's on the right track.  "Charge what people will pay"...  Cost to produce is only relevant if you can't find anyone to buy it for more than it costs to make.  Otherwise jack up the prices to what folks will line up to pay.  There's also the "loss leader" marketing gimmick where the store is losing money on the item but figured they'll make it back five times over in all the other stuff you buy while you're there.  Thanksgiving turkeys are the classic example of that one.  

While bmaddox is correct that they can't slaughter only part of a chicken, they sure can freeze and store for a while.  I don't know rules/regs around it but I expect a commercial operation can flash freeze and store in bulk a BUNCH of product a whole heck of a lot colder than we can do with residential freezers.  I'd be surprised if they didn't do something like that to shift supply around to match demand cycles.

... and while we're on the topic, gotta bring out this classic:

 
 
I don't know rules/regs around it but I expect a commercial operation can flash freeze and store in bulk a BUNCH of product a whole heck of a lot colder than we can do with residential freezers.  
That is a good point. I have done some work in grocery store distribution centers and they have huge freezers that are 30 below zero. You could keep a lot of chicken wings in one of those.
 
I wish we had those prices, even the higher ones here! Breasts are $2.99, thighs, drums are right around $2.00, whole wings are $4.00 whole chickens are anywhere from $1.29 (on sale) to $$4.50(organic). All per pound pricing.
 
I wish we had those prices, even the higher ones here! Breasts are $2.99, thighs, drums are right around $2.00, whole wings are $4.00 whole chickens are anywhere from $1.29 (on sale) to $$4.50(organic). All per pound pricing.

I have found whole chickens on sale fot $1/pd, twice, and bought 2 birds each time. Would love to see $.27/ lb!
 
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