U.S. broiler chicken numbers kept rising this week, with the USDA reporting 256.077 million broiler-type eggs set into incubation, an increase of 317,000 from the prior week and 3% above last year. 256.077 million eggs were set, while the reported average hatchability edged down slightly to 79.2%, a small dip from the previous report. Producers placed 195.695 million broiler-type chicks into meat production this week, a week-on-week decline of 2.788 million head tied to lower sets earlier in the month but still a 2% gain versus the same week in 2025. 195.695 million chicks were placed and are scheduled to move through grow-out and begin reaching processors in May.
Production pacing remains ahead of the prior year across the national flock, with the USDA noting the overall pace is 2% ahead of 2025. The weekly drop in placements reflects timing shifts after lower sets earlier this month rather than a sustained downturn, and hatchability at 79.2% will be monitored as those cohorts progress. Market participants and producers will be watching live weights and slaughter schedules next month as these birds reach market weight.
Regional snapshots
State-level figures reported by Brownfield show mixed week-to-week movement across key producing areas. Arkansas set 27.247 million eggs this week, up from 27.032 million the prior week, while placements fell to 22.68 million head from 23.054 million. Kentucky's sets held steady at 7.998 million eggs, with placements down slightly to 5.88 million head from 5.948 million the week before. Missouri's sets were unchanged at 9.185 million eggs, and placements rose to 5.886 million head compared with 5.309 million the prior week.
Combined data for California, Tennessee and West Virginia showed 16.271 million eggs set this week versus 16.318 million the week before, and placements of 14.229 million head down from 14.566 million. Those regional shifts reflect the same short-term timing differences seen nationally between sets and placements rather than broad production cuts, according to the sequence of reported data.
The USDA will incorporate these weekly trends into its next formal outlook: the agency's updated annual broiler production projection is scheduled for release on May 12, 2026.
Photo - cdn.brownfieldagnews.com
