Avian Flu Sending Prices of Turkeys Up Ahead of Thanksgiving

That Thanksgiving turkey is going to cost more this year. But the surge in prices cannot be entirely blamed on rising inflation levels. Instead, it is the bird flu that is driving up the prices of turkeys ahead of the holiday. Here is what you need to know about your Turkey Day price forecast.

Bird Flu Virus Responsible for Major Poultry Losses

Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is demonstrating that the bird flu virus is going to send turkey prices soaring just in time for the holidays. The highly contagious avian virus is already destroying hordes of chickens and turkeys, translating to the likelihood of higher poultry prices in the weeks and months ahead.

The latest economic data is reflective of the massive loss of turkeys to the bird flu. New data out of the College of Agriculture at Purdue University demonstrates that wholesale turkey prices are up 75% since October of 2024. The price of turkeys hit an average of $1.71 per pound in October of 2025. Purdue's data is forecasting that prices could be up to $2.05 per pound by the Thanksgiving holiday, as more flu outbreaks are spreading across turkey farms.

The higher prices are being attributed to the ongoing challenges facing poultry farmers as the flu continues to spread. According to data from the USDA, over 30 commercial flocks and 30 backyard flocks have been hit with the avian flu over the last 30 days. This has resulted in a loss of 1.65 million birds.

There is little hope that the virus is starting to wane. Instead, cases have risen steadily since September. While there were about 60,000 cases reported at the end of September, this number had jumped to almost 4 million by the next month. This current strain dates back to 2022.