New Delhi (PTI): The chicken-hearted may frown upon it, but the bird flesh is still a "pricey" commodity despite a decline in demand during navratras and supply constraints pushing up wholesale prices by about 13 per cent in just a fortnight.

Wholesale prices of chicken have shot up to Rs 53 per kg now from Rs 47 in mid-September. Similarly, retail prices in the national capital have increased to Rs 110 per kg from the range of Rs 90-100 last month.

"The increase in the prices can be attributed to a fall in supply from neighbouring states," Fish, Poultry and Egg Marketing Board Chairman Haji Babu Khan Salmani said.

Salmani said chickens and eggs are normally being supplied to the Gazipur mandi in Delhi from Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and the National Capital Region. Since availability is dented to a major extent this time, prices have shot up despite a fall in demand due to navratras, he added.

An industry expert said traders are waiting for the holy festive period to be over to boost supplies so that they can earn some quick bucks due to the revival of demand. However, this check in supply is pushing up the prices.

Mandi sources said though, normally, the number of vans carrying broilers declines during navratras, this time the number has come down heavily, thereby, affecting supply.

"About 125 vans carrying broilers used to reach mandis on a normal day. But in this navratras, the number came down to 70-80," they said.