"Old Brick Farm, where Larry Doll raises chickens, turkeys and ducks, was fortunate this Thanksgiving season. Doll's small farm west of Detroit had no cases of bird flu, despite an ongoing outbreak that killed more than 2 million U.S. turkeys in the last three months alone. He also avoided another disease, avian metapneumovirus, which causes turkeys to lay fewer eggs."
"But Doll still saw the impact as those diseases shrank the U.S. turkey flock to a 40-year low this year. The hatchery where he gets his turkey chicks had fewer available this year. He plans to order another 100 hatchlings soon, even though they won't arrive until July. "If you don't get your order in early, you're not going to get it," he said."
An outbreak of bird flu and avian metapneumovirus reduced the U.S. turkey flock to a 40-year low, killing more than 2 million turkeys in three months. Some small farms avoided infection through strict biosecurity and limiting animals from other farms. Hatchery shortages limited availability of turkey chicks, forcing earlier orders and delayed delivery. The U.S. Department of Agriculture expects wholesale turkey prices to rise 44% this year. Retailers are offering discounts and free turkeys to ease consumer costs. A Datasembly survey found a basket of 11 Thanksgiving staples cost $58.81, up 4.1% from last year.
Read at ABC7 Los Angeles
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