What Ethically Raised Chicken Costs

Key Takeaways

• As of October 5, 2026, our chicken runs $7.00 to $17.00 a pound, from wings at the low end to boneless breasts at the top.
• The price includes daily pasture moves from May through October, winter barns with added space, birds gathered by hand, and non-GMO feed year-round.
• Whole birds, drumsticks, and wings are our most economical cuts, and Subscribe & Save takes 5% off every order.

How Much Does Ethical Pasture-Raised Chicken Cost per Pound?

Our chicken costs $7.00 to $17.00 a pound, depending on the cut.

We checked these prices in our online store on October 5, 2026, before discounts. Your final total adjusts to each package's actual weight.

Where Does the Money Go?

The extra cost comes from three places: more labor, more room, and better feed. We've farmed both ways, so we know what each one adds. Here's what your dollar covers:

• Daily pasture moves. From early May through late October, our mobile coops roll onto fresh pasture daily. That takes a lot of hands, and a lot of paychecks.
• More room inside. Our winter barns give birds 10% to 20% more space than organic standards require, and young birds get even more room to spread out. Fewer birds per building means each bird carries a larger share of the building's operating costs.
• Just as much room outside. Each bird gets at least as much outdoor space as indoor space, and in summer that can double or triple.
• Non-GMO feed all year. Our birds eat a non-GMO corn and soybean blend in summer and winter, instead of standard commodity feed.
• Care by hand. We gather birds into baskets by hand, cover them on cold days, and cool them with fans and mist on hot ones.
• Careful harvest. At our partners' harvest facility, each bird is unloaded by hand, and the lights stay low where possible to help birds stay calm.

Our farming standards lay it all out, and you're always welcome to visit the farm and see for yourself. 

What Do You Get for the Difference?

You get ethically raised chicken that's raised on pasture during warm seasons and provided shelter with outdoor access in winter. In summer, our birds eat non-GMO feed and forage on grass, legumes, wildflowers, and all the bugs they can find. As they move, they fertilize the pasture and give each patch time to rest and regrow. We've seen that cycle build healthier soil year after year. 

In winter, the flock lives in warm barns… This cuts "our birds" from three uses to two. Our winter partner farm, Shenandoah Valley Organics in Virginia, raises birds in protective houses with pasture access and shares our standards.

How Does It Compare to Supermarket Chicken?

Our chicken costs roughly four times the average grocery price. In August 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported averages of $4.17 a pound for boneless breast and $2.01 a pound for whole chicken. 

Per meal, the difference is easier to picture. A 4-ounce raw serving of our breast costs about $4.25, compared with about $1.04 at the grocery average. That's about $3.20 more per serving, or about $12.83 more for a one-pound dinner that feeds four. 

How Can You Make It Work on a Smaller Budget?

Buy whole birds and lower-priced cuts, use every part, and let our discounts help. Wings are white meat, so "dark meat" doesn't cover them. 

• Start with a whole bird. At $8.86 a pound, it's about half the price of boneless breasts, and you get every cut plus the back.
• Make one bird go further. We love a roast chicken for Sunday dinner, then tacos or soup from the leftovers, then broth from the bones. 
• Choose drumsticks and wings. At $7.59 and $7.00 a pound, they're our lowest-priced cuts.
• Set up repeat orders. Subscribe & Save takes 5% off each order and adds a free item to every delivery. You can swap, skip, or cancel anytime. 
• Save on delivery. We offer free delivery to many states on qualified orders, starting at $159. Check our delivery thresholds by region before you build your box.

Is It Worth It for Your Family?

If you care about what pasture-raised really means, and the price fits your grocery budget, our ethically raised chicken is worth it. If you're feeding a large family on a tight budget, supermarket chicken at $2.01 a pound will stretch further. That's a fair call, and we respect it.

If the difference does fit, a whole bird or a few packs of drumsticks is an economical place to start. Stock your freezer with our ethically raised chicken cuts and taste what ethical farming adds to your table.

FAQ

How much does ethically raised chicken cost per pound?

Prices run from $7.00 a pound for wings to $17.00 a pound for boneless, skinless breasts, based on our October 5, 2026 store prices. A whole bird works out to about $8.86 a pound. 

Why is ethical pasture-raised chicken more expensive?

It costs more because raising it takes more labor, more space, and better feed. Our birds are raised on pasture during warm seasons and provided shelter with outdoor access in winter. In summer, we move them to fresh pasture daily, and they eat a non-GMO corn and soybean blend all year. 

Is pasture-raised chicken worth the price?

For many families, yes, as long as it suits your grocery plan. The premium pays for real work: hands moving coops daily in summer, extra room in our barns, and careful handling at harvest. If you need each dollar to stretch, grocery chicken goes about four times further. 

What is the average price for a pound of chicken?

In August 2026, U.S. shoppers paid about $2 a pound for whole chicken and just over $4 a pound for boneless breast. Those figures come from Bureau of Labor Statistics data, which blends many brands and farming methods into one average. 

How much does a whole chicken cost?

Our whole chicken is $32.10 for a bird averaging 3.625 pounds, about $8.86 a pound, as of October 5, 2026. 

Why does the price change through the year?

Our prices drop when we run a sale, so a cut can cost less on one visit than the next. Totals for chicken sold by average weight also shift slightly, because we charge for the actual weight at packing.

Is it cheaper to buy a whole chicken than parts?

A whole chicken costs less per pound than our breasts, thighs, or ground chicken, and you get the back and bones for broth too. Drumsticks and wings cost slightly less per pound than a whole bird, so they're worth a look too. 

What is the most economical way to buy your chicken?

Start with our lowest-priced cuts, then let Subscribe & Save trim the total. Repeat orders take 5% off and include a free item, like a pound of ground beef or breakfast sausage, with each delivery. You can swap items, skip a delivery, or cancel anytime. 

Does buying in bulk actually save money?

It can, mostly by cutting delivery costs. One bigger box means one delivery instead of several smaller ones. Our chicken arrives frozen, and we guarantee it for up to one year in your freezer, so there's no rush to cook it at once. Our curated bundles make stocking up simple. 

Do your prices include delivery?

No, our listed prices cover the chicken only. We offer free delivery to many states on qualified orders, once your box reaches $159 in most areas or $225 in others. Below that, a $14.99 fee applies, and order minimums run from $99 to $175, depending on your zone.