Why is chicken suddenly so cheap?

Have you noticed chicken prices dropping in many places?

It sounds like good news. But in poultry, when the price drops too much, something else is usually happening behind the scenes.

Most of the time, it means birds are being grown faster, in larger numbers, using cheaper feed and tighter systems. The focus shifts to speed and weight, not taste or quality.

The chicken becomes softer, watery, and strangely bland — something many of us have felt but couldn’t explain.

Two birds can look identical in size, but one took time to grow, and the other was rushed. That time makes a big difference to how the meat feels and tastes when you cook it.

I’ve realized that in poultry, price and quality often move in opposite directions.

Good chicken takes time. And time, unfortunately, is the first thing removed when the goal is to reduce cost.