Despite record-high production targets set by the national Chicken Farmers of Canada marketing agency, there is a shortage of chicken.
Since a year ago the wholesale price of some chicken products has increased by approximately 12 per cent.
In April, the consumer price for fresh or frozen chicken rose 2.6 per cent, year-over-year. It was the first time since September, 2025, that annual price hikes dipped below 5 per cent.
Farmers get paid prices that reflect production costs, so they are not pocketing higher profits other than through increased volume.
And chicken farmers are unable to fully respond because there is a shortage of chicks, the result of avian influenza wiping out some hatching egg flocks and a lagging response to increased demand.
Higher prices for beef – up by 23 per cent from the five-year average – is driving demand for chicken.
“We’re just seeing more and more production, and higher and higher prices. It’s the exact opposite of what you learned in grade 11 economics,” said market analyst Kevin Grier.
“Nobody should expect lower chicken prices. Period.”
