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Key takeaways
Why Chicken Prices Don't Always Rise with Egg Prices
A recent avian flu outbreak in the U.S. sent egg prices soaring, prompting some restaurants to add egg surcharges, reduce the number of eggs they serve, or switch to liquid eggs to keep costs and prices low. The good news? Broiler chickens, the type of bird that produces chicken wings, differ from egg-laying hens, and they have not been as susceptible to the bird flu outbreak that began in 2024, leading to more stable chicken wing prices while egg prices saw greater fluctuation.
Moreover, there are far more broiler chickens than egg-laying chickens in the U.S., and they can be processed for their meat in about six to eight weeks. Egg-laying chickens, on the other hand, start laying after 18 weeks of age. All of this adds up to a more plentiful supply of chicken wings that are less exposed to the virus, and helps explain why the cost of chicken wings for restaurants has not increased as much as egg prices.
Egg prices have cooled in recent months. Median chicken wing prices also dipped between September and October 2025.
Key Factors in Recent Months
Despite the monthly drop, the year-over-year increase shows that operators are still paying more for wings than they were last year, reflecting the broader challenges of labor and production costs that have impacted the entire meat industry.
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About the Toast Menu Price Monitor
The Menu Price Monitor, powered by Toast, uncovers key menu pricing trends across the restaurant industry through aggregated sales data from restaurants on the Toast platform, which has approximately 156,000 locations as of Sept. 30, 2025. This information is provided for general informational purposes only, and publication does not constitute an endorsement. Toast does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of any information, text, graphics, links, or other items contained within this content. Individual results may vary. Toast does not guarantee you will achieve any specific results if you follow any advice herein. It may be advisable for you to consult with a professional such as a lawyer, accountant, or business advisor for advice specific to your situation. The Toast Menu Item Price Tracker does not indicate Toast's operational performance or its reported financial metrics.
