Many people were surprised recently over the increase in prices of live and fresh chicken in the market.

Shopkeepers, especially those selling live chickens, have increased prices by between Dh2 and Dh2.50 a few days ago taking the retail price to the highest this year at between Dh11 and 12.50.

The main reason for the increase is the reported high demand and temporary shortage in supply. "We are not getting enough live chickens," said a shopkeeper in the Sharjah Animal and Bird Market.

"We normally get live chickens from small farms in Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. But these days they are not supplying enough to meet the demand."

He blamed the shortage for the price increase.

Shopkeepers who sell live chickens said prices were between Dh8.50 and Dh10 just a week ago, but now sell for Dh11 to Dh 12.50 because poultry farms have also increased the wholesale price.

"Earlier, we got live chickens for Dh6.50 to Dh7, but now even the wholesale price has increased to at least Dh8.5. This price is for a chicken weighing about one kg."

Supermarkets have also reported an increase in the price of fresh chicken which costs Dh11 and Dh 11.50 per kg. The wholesale price has increased to Dh9 to Dh9.50. A week ago, the retail price for fresh chicken was below Dh10.

An official of a leading poultry company said prices for fresh chicken have not increased. "In fact, we are back to normal. The market was not doing well during the last few months which led companies to reduce prices to compete," he said.

He said chicken production has been also badly affected recently by a shortage of day-old chicks.

"The poultry market was facing problems due to the ban on the import of chicks from Europe, especially Holland and Germany. But even after the ban has been lifted, the supply is not enough to cope with the market," he said, adding that now chicks are mainly coming from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan and India.

Those who sell live chickens normally get their stock from the small poultry farms, while a big poultry company mostly supplies slaughtered and packed fresh chicken.

Mohammed Hasan, a leading shopkeeper, said there is hardly a 'ready' supply of live chicken as most of the farms are still growing their poultry.

A market analyst said: "The shortage in the supply of live chickens is normal a month before Ramadan because most poultry farm owners hold their stock to get higher prices during Ramadan when demand increases."

Mohammed Rafique, an owner of a busy restaurant, said the increase in the prices of live chickens would force them to revise their rates.

He said the increase in prices would affect the hospitality market and customers should be ready to pay a bigger bill for meals at restaurants.

Sadaf Naz, who was buying chicken at the Sharjah Animal and Bird Market, said she was unhappy to find that prices had gone up by at least 15 to 20 per cent.

"It will definitely upset my monthly budget, but we cannot cut down on eating chicken, which is my children's favourite dish. I was here to buy five kg of chicken but bought only three," she said.

Many people prefer to buy live chickens and have them slaughtered at poultry shops as they are conscious about the quality of meat they eat.