Turkey prices in the United States increased sharply for Thanksgiving 2025 as poultry diseases reduced the number of birds available.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), wholesale frozen whole hen turkeys will cost about $1.32 per pound in 2025, up from $0.94 per pound in 2024—an increase of nearly 40%.
Turkey farmers expect to send 195 million birds to market in 2025, which is 3% fewer than last year and far below the mid-1990s peak of more than 300 million.
USDA economists estimate that U.S. turkey production for the first half of 2025 fell by 9.7% compared with 2024. They link the decline to disease outbreaks and a tighter supply chain.
The poultry sector continues to deal with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which affected over 600,000 turkeys in September 2025, especially in Minnesota. Since 2022, about 18.7 million turkeys nationwide have been affected, including 2.2 million in 2025.
Producers also face losses from avian metapneumovirus (AMPV), which hit breeder flocks in 2024. AMPV reduced egg production and slowed the supply of young birds, contributing to fewer market-ready turkeys this year.
As a result, families are paying more for Thanksgiving meals. Some are now relying more on National Leftovers Day, the Friday after Thanksgiving, to stretch food budgets.
Food-waste experts say household leftovers represent a large part of national food loss. Agencies like the USDA and CDC remind families to refrigerate or freeze leftover turkey and side dishes within two hours to prevent spoilage. Most cooked turkey and dishes stay safe in the refrigerator for three to four days, and leftovers should be reheated to 165°F.
