The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that American hatcheries ramped up activity during the week ending February 14, placing more eggs into incubators and increasing the number of chicks entering the production system.
According to the agency, hatcheries set 254 million eggs in incubators during the week, a two percent increase compared to the same period last year. The average hatchability rate, which measures how many chicks hatched from eggs set three weeks earlier, held at 79 percent.
Broiler-type chick placements for meat production totaled 196 million for the week, also up two percent year-over-year. Looking at the five-week period from January 10 through February 14, total placements reached 1.18 billion chicks, marking a two percent increase compared to the same timeframe in 2025.
State-level data showed that Georgia led the nation in broiler-type eggs set, reporting 36.3 million during the week. Alabama followed closely with 35.9 million, while Arkansas reported 26.7 million. Those same three states also topped the list for broiler chicks placed. Georgia ranked first with 29.7 million chicks placed, followed by Alabama at 24.2 million and Arkansas at 21.7 million.
The steady growth in egg sets and chick placements signals continued expansion in the broiler production pipeline as integrators respond to domestic and export demand for poultry products.
