Poults hatched during February were down 2 percent to 21.7 million. Compared to the Jan. 1 total of 23.4 million, poults hatched were down 7 percent, NASS said.
Poults placed for meat production during February declined 1 percent from the total placed during the comparable year ago period, according to NASS. Net placements eased 4 percent from the January total of 22.1 million.