Hatcheries in the United States 19-state weekly program set 206 million eggs in incubators during the week ending Feb. 7, up 3 percent from a year ago. Average hatchability for chicks hatched during the week was 83 percent.
Broiler-type chicks placed also increased for the week. Broiler growers placed 169 million chicks for meat production, up 3 percent from the year earlier.
Cumulative placements for the week ending Jan. 10 through Feb. 7 advanced 3 percent to 876 million placements, USDA reported.
