WASHINGTON – Broiler producers set 209 million eggs in incubators during the week ending Feb. 15, an increase of 1 percent compared to a year ago, the US Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service reported. Average hatchability for chicks hatched during the week was 83 percent.

Broiler chicks placed for meat production during the week declined slightly compared to a year ago. Producers placed 163 million chicks for meat production in the week ending Feb. 15. Cumulative placements from Dec. 29 through Feb. 15 totaled 1.19 billion chicks, up 1 percent from the comparable year ago period.