There are plenty here, right now, but the good ones seem pricier than previously. I heard that the real problem is that with people still staying close to home and having smaller gatherings, there aren't going to be enough sized to the new normal. When I was doing a smaller than usual gathering some years ago, the advice here, in CF, was that smaller turkeys aren't really fleshy enough in the meat to bone proportion, and an 18 pounder was a better bird. It was significantly less meat than my usual 22 lb. (biggest that fits in my "goose pot" roaster), and worked well for the occasion.

I bought a bone-in breast this week from Kroger and put it in the freezer. I also went out to stock up on baking supplies; I went to five grocery stores to find Philadelphia brand cream cheese. (my family likes cheesecakes for dessert, and Philly does it best!)

I don’t know if it’s hoarding this year as much as it’s supply chain issues. Or maybe it’s a bit of both. I had a worker at Kroger tell me they have food ordered, it’s just taking it forever to come in. Empty shelves in every aisle, and it’s stuff like Cheerios or canned chilies….things you wouldn’t expect folks to hoard. And things are so expensive! My favorite brand of bacon is up to $9.99 from $6.99 a lb. Crazy.

Seems to be fine. Just a bit slower getting the frozen ones to stores at the moment. WholeFoods are getting them in this week at 99cents a pound in my area. (no idea who the farm supplier is).

I had mine delivered last week from ButcherBox. Free turkey, free shipping, with first order. I needed it done and over. We don't care but Mother does. She has to have a turkey. If we visit them i have it all.

16 pounds of protein in small cryvaced portions is 30+ meals for us. I chose the box where i could make my choices. On top of that a 13pound turkey. Parfect size. I find a smaller bird cooks more evenly. The past ten years we would order a D'artagnan locally to be picked up, but no orders are being taken yet. One supplier cannot guarantee size.

D'artangnan direct is 89$ plus shipping. ---our local maket must have had a lost-leader type deal with them years past.

12-14 lbs is fine for 6-8 people here. Next day breakfast hash, lunch sliders, stock, and a few quarts of soup. Then we are done for the year. Not big meat eaters and i always have multiple platters of veg. Turkey is a side dish.

I do see limits per person. And suggestions to get a frozen one early if size matters. Smaller ones frozen have been harvested younder. But getting any size should not be a problem.

I haven't really looked at turkeys. I need a few things today and may check in our Safeway but I'm lukewarm about cooking one this year. Still being extremely cautious with my vaccinated 94 yr old mother, I don't know what our holiday plans will be. Everyone in the family is vaccinated, and we were the first to get our boosters yesterday. But - getting together? I'm not sure yet. I cooked the full Thanksgiving meal last year - for two. I don't think I'll do that again, DH is not willing to eat a few days of turkey leftovers. He'll enjoy it fresh and hot on the holiday, but then he's had enough and doesn't want to see it other than maybe some turkey on a leftover roll and slice of pumpkin pie for breakfast the morning after ;0) After that, he's really done.

And, I'd have to defrost and sort my freezer before I could fit one in if purchased now. It's on my to-do list for this week. A twice a year chore now that its in my heated mudroom, but I don't know how it gets out of control that quickly. It was many years in a cool but not cold basement and barely needed defrosting once each Fall.

sleevendog, I took advantage of the free turkey thru butcherbox also, this one will be saved for Christmas because I plan on ham also at Christmas. I did have my family on the lookout for turkeys and my mother was able to pick up a 19lb for Thanksgiving. My dad was at Kroger yesterday and said they had plenty of turkeys, size not sure of.

I do not host anything so no need for me to worry about getting a turkey. I do all the cooking though and will cook whatever protein is provided if I am to be cooking for a family dinner. I do not know my plans for the meal this year. If its just me and SO again this year I will do what I did last year. I got a pack of 2 turkey tenderloins, slathered them in butter and seasonings, wrapped them in bacon and roasted. Way better than fighting with the whole beast and its leftovers! I was more worried about the sides! Last time I was in the store all of the displays with typical "Thanksgiving" food were picked clean! Plenty of turkeys were available though!

I noticed that with our Cdn Thanksgiving last month and made a post about it.

The *only* turkeys to be found were Butterball. Normally there are a number of different brands, generally at .99/lb. These were more money per lb.

I've stayed away from Butterball deliberately over the years, but bought one this year. I'll never buy it again.

My SIL works for Cargill who supply turkeys both frozen and unfrozen -- he said that there are plenty of frozen turkeys but fresh turkeys may be in a shorter supply. So it's just a scare tactic to get turkeys sold quicker, I think.

I got the LAST ONE in the freezer case last week -- it just so happened to be a Butterball, which is all I buy, and close enough to the size to what I usually get. I paid full price and grumbled to myself about it the whole time it was in my basket but I figured time is money and I'm not running around store to store to find a flippin' turkey or get in a turkey fight.

I picked up a bone-in breast today. Supply was not plentiful but not wiped out either.

Jasdip: Why do you not like Butterball? I've never had a bad Butterball. Not ever.

My local grocery store told me they had tons, just hadn't brought them out yet from the freezer. (this was two weeks ago). I ordered a fresh on from a local butcher shop today. I'll pick it up the day before. The number they gave me was in the 400's, making me wonder if lots of my neighbors are doing the same thing.

"The number they gave me was in the 400's..."

You mean they have 400+ turkeys, or $400+ for a turkey? No turkey is worth $400 unless it comes complete with gold-plated drumsticks.

LOL, MXk, I would never pay $400 for a turkey. I think it was more like I was 400th and something in line. It will be closer to $70 which is still a lot compared to the frozen turkeys available at many grocery stores, but I think a fresh turkey is noticeably better and I'm willing to pay the difference.

Went to the store today and there were plenty of all sizes! About $1.49 per lb..

Not fond of turkey so no biggie for me. Stores near me seem to have plenty, fresh and frozen. I did buy an always overpriced goose but I use every smidgen of that bird for all kinds of umami dishes and no fat goes to waste - just my waist. I really do not remember the last time my DH's family (of 24) served turkey for an event. More into multitude of side dishes and desserts. Last event I made chicken pieces in plum and onion sauce. Not smidgen-one left of that either. Maybe turkey is for old people for nostalgia reasons. I'm old and I am not nostalgic for the cooked turkey smell that hangs on for days, nor for any of the "creative" ways to use up leftover turkey.

No issues via consumer reports. Frozen is just a bit slower due to trucking. The birds exist but supply chain in trucking a bit slower.

AmazonWholeFoods has them now. Via their distribution centers. 99cents a pound. Guessing a 'lost leader' counting on a healthy order.

Much better choice than a butterBall---

two sizes...small and large

Jasdip, I'm not a fan of Butterball either. They are always kind of weird in texture, too mushy or something. I'm assuming it's from the salt solution they pump in.

I get my bird from a local farmer, organic and free range. Best turkey I've ever eaten, but I brine it for a couple of days before we eat it, and the smallest ones are always about 20 pounds.

I don't think there's a shortage here, though. Aldi had Butterball for 88 cents a pound and our local Meijer has theeir brand on sale for 33 cents a pound. Elery stopped to pick up a few things and said they had a freezer full, between 10 and 15 pounds. No required minimum purchase, but a limit of two. I don't have freezer room in any event.

https://www.meijer.com/shopping/departments/fresh/meat/turkey/whole-turkeys.html?icid=HP:hero:1:11721::TurkeyPromo

Annie

DH's nephew owns a small butcher shop/grocery store chain. He told us turkeys are going to be in short supply.

I usually ordered a 30+ lb turkey from a local farm but they did not raise turkeys this year. Instead I ordered an 18 lb turkey and a turkey breast from ButcherBox. IThey are due to arrive today.

DD was at the grocery store Sunday and they had Jennie O frozen turkeys on sale for 79 cents/lb.. They only had larger ones so she bought two 23 lbs. to put in the freezer.

I usually host two Thnksgiving meals, noon for friends and evening for my inlaws. My hisband's parents are in their 90's so they are staying in and I will deliver dinner to them. The rest of the inlaws have opted to go elsewhere this year.