Tet is coming but the price of free-range chicken has dropped sharply. How can chicken farmers in Ha Tinh cope? How miserable!

Currently, the wholesale price of free-range chicken is fluctuating from 42,000 - 55,000 VND/kg, causing many farming households in Ha Tinh to face the risk of losses.

As one of the households with the largest number of free-range chickens in Phu Hoa village (Yen Hoa commune, Cam Xuyen), Mr. Phan Danh Chi expects to have more than 3,000 chickens for sale during the Tet At Ty.

If before, from the beginning of December, Mr. Chi had received orders from traders, now he has to proactively look for a market.

The price of free-range chicken is at a "record" low, ranging from 42,000 - 55,000 VND/kg, making Mr. Chi hesitant to sell his chicken.

Mr. Phan Danh Chi shared: "In previous years, chickens were sold wholesale at the garden for 60,000 - 70,000 VND/kg, with a large consumption market. However, from October 2024 to now, chicken prices have continuously decreased, from 50,000 VND/kg to only 42,000 VND/kg.

Currently, my batch of chickens has reached a weight of 1.8-2.5 kg, ensuring quality for sale, but it is still difficult to find an outlet. Even if I could sell all 3,000 chickens at the current price, my family would only have enough capital, almost no profit."

According to Mr. Chi, the reason for the low chicken price is that people proactively raise chicken at home, the supply has increased sharply while the consumption of chicken at the end of the year does not increase much compared to normal days.

Mr. Chi cleaned the garden and raised chickens in the hope of making it easier for future consumption.

"I expect to sell the chickens to supply the Tet market by December 20, with an estimated revenue of about 100 million VND, while the cost of food, medicine, and electricity for lighting is more than 90 million VND. This revenue is about 30-40 million VND lower than previous years," said Mr. Chi.

Many batches of free-range chickens in Yen Hoa commune have reached the weight for sale.

With more than 10 years of experience raising chickens, Mr. Ho Xuan Hung (Phu Hoa village, Yen Hoa commune) commented that the price of chickens has never been at the "rock bottom" level like this year.

"Previously, during Tet, my family had more than 1,000 chickens to sell. This year, due to concerns about low consumption, I proactively raised them in a rolling manner, releasing 500 chickens each month. Currently, the sugarcane and fox hybrid chickens are growing well with a weight of 2-2.5 kg. However, the wholesale price at the farm is only 52,000 VND/kg of fox hybrid chickens and 55,000 VND/kg of sugarcane chickens, so I still don't want to sell them in the hope that the price may be higher near Tet" - Mr. Hung shared.

Contrary to Mr. Hung's expectations, Mr. Phan Danh Vinh (Phu Hoa village) was worried that chicken prices would continue to fall. Therefore, although there were only more than 2 weeks left until Tet, Mr. Vinh decided to sell 1,000 chickens at 48,000 - 50,000 VND/kg, earning nearly 100 million VND.

Mr. Vinh is one of the households with decades of experience raising chickens, but still had to "bear a loss" on the most recent batch of chickens sold.

"Provisionally estimating the cost of food at about 85 million VND, the cost of seeds at 15 million VND, the cost of medicine and electricity for lighting at nearly 10 million VND, my family has lost nearly 10 million VND after more than 3 months of raising the animals; in addition, not including the daily care costs.

Despite many years of experience in raising chickens, this is the first year the family has had to "suffer a loss". Currently, I am still raising 2,000 chickens, planning to sell them after Tet" - Mr. Vinh said.

Mr. Phan Van Duc - Vice Chairman of Yen Hoa Commune Farmers' Association shared: "In the area, there are currently about 120 households raising chickens with a large number of 500 chickens/batch or more, mainly concentrated in Phu Hoa village, Bac Hoa...

It is expected that during the Lunar New Year, Yen Hoa commune will supply about 145,000 chickens to the market. Currently, the price of free-range chickens is low, fluctuating around 42,000 - 55,000 VND/kg. Compared to previous years and peak periods, this price has decreased by 10,000 - 20,000 VND/kg."

Many traders buy at home in small quantities, only 1-2 quintals/time.

In Thach Van commune (Ha Tinh city), many chicken farmers are also in a state of "loss" because wholesale prices have reached the lowest level in many months.

Mr. Nguyen Van Chau (Tan Van village) shared: "To supply the Tet market, since October 2024, my family has released 2,000 hybrid chickens. Currently, my batch of chickens has reached a weight of 2-2.5 kg, and traders are asking to buy them at a price of 50,000 - 55,000 VND/kg. This price is quite low, so I have not sold them yet. Hopefully, in the next 1-2 weeks, the price of chickens will increase, helping farmers make more profits."

Mr. Nguyen Van Bang - Vice Chairman of Thach Van Commune People's Committee said: "In the commune, there are currently about 200 households raising chickens with a scale of 50-500 chickens/batch or more, concentrated in 4 villages: Tan Van, Trung Van, Bac Van, Dong Van. It is expected that on the occasion of Tet At Ty 2025, the commune will supply the market with about 80,000 chickens.

If in previous years, the wholesale price of chicken fluctuated from 65,000 - 70,000 VND/kg, this year it is a "record low", only from 50,000 - 55,000 VND/kg, many households after selling their chickens are forced to make up for the loss, with almost no profit.

Mr. Nguyen Van Chau expects chicken prices to increase slightly in the next 1-2 weeks.

In fact, chicken is a food with fluctuating prices based on market demand and consumption. Therefore, people need to consider the time of selling to ensure both quality and a suitable price. For cages that have not been sold, it is necessary to focus on care, supplement minerals, vitamins, nutrition and vaccination to help chickens grow well, have high weight and good quality. Many households expect that by the time of Tet, chicken prices will increase, helping households have more income, continue to restore flocks to develop the economy .

Source: https://danviet.vn/tet-den-noi-ma-ga-tha-vuon-rot-gia-manh-nong-dan-nuoi-ga-ha-tinh-xoay-kieu-gi-day-den-kho-20250116085801437.htm