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rices of day-old-chicken, known within the industry as “DOC”, jumped in West Java ahead of the Idul Fitri celebration, mainly due to high demand from seasonal poultry businessmen, according to an official of the West Java provincial animal husbandry office.

The office head, Koesmayadi Tatang Padmadinata, said that many seasonal poultry businessmen were willing to buy chickens at any price.

The price of one DOC jumped to Rp 5,700 (60 US cents) and Rp 6,250 from Rp 4,500 during normal market conditions. Koesmayadi said that the high prices would surely see prices of chicken reach to around Rp 31,000 per kilogram.

DOC businessmen had originally intended to sell at market prices, but as there were buyers who were willing to pay more, they would take priority, he said.

“It’s impossible for poultry businessmen to sell their products below market prices. Now, it all depends on market mechanisms. DOC price setting depends on the buyers,” Koesmayadi said.

Thousands of poultry sellers in Bandung once went on strike, demanding that poultry businessmen lower their selling prices, but more recently the prices of chicken have hovered at Rp 30,000 per kilogram.