Stability of Chicken Prices Amidst Bird Flu Outbreaks

The price of chicken has only risen by 1% over the past year, in stark contrast to the doubling of egg prices, largely attributed to bird flu outbreaks. This discrepancy can be explained by understanding the different types of chickens used in food production; broiler chickens, raised for meat, and egg-laying chickens are distinct breeds with different farming practices. Broiler chickens are typically slaughtered at a young age, which limits their exposure to diseases that could affect their meat supply. Additionally, the average size of egg farms is significantly larger, making them more vulnerable to the impacts of bird flu, as culling a larger population leads to a more substantial effect on egg prices compared to the smaller-scale broiler farms, which are less affected by this disease due to their geographical locations and shortened lifespans.