Then a global pandemic gave millions of people a hankering for delivery wings. Then a deep freeze in Texas affected chicken production. Then restaurants reopened and dining capacity limits relaxed.
All these threads came together to cause a chicken shortage in the United States, consequently making chicken more expensive, especially wings.
The chicken shortage has put financial strain on restaurant owners, who must either raise their wing prices to match the market price or keep prices steady and take a revenue hit.
Timothy Witcher, co-owner and chef at The Wing Kitchen which has locations in Turnersville and Glassboro, said chicken wing prices have gone up nearly 50% over the last few months.