USDA reported more eggs set and chicks placed for the week ending Dec. 12.

WASHINGTON – Broiler eggs and chicks placed advanced slightly, the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the US Dept. of Agriculture reported in its weekly Broiler Hatchery report.

For the week ending Dec. 12, hatcheries in the 19-state weekly program set 207 million eggs in incubators, up slightly from a year ago. Average hatchability for chicks hatched was 84 percent, NASS said.

Broiler chicks placed for meat production during the week also advance slightly during the week. Broiler growers placed 171 million chicks for meat production. Cumulative placements from the week ending Jan. 10 through Dec. 12 were 8.75 billion, up 2 percent from the same period a year ago, NASS reported.