WASHINGTON – Broiler hatcheries in the 19-state weekly program set 202 million eggs in incubators during the week ending April 5, up 1 percent from a year ago, the US Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service reported. Average hatchability for chicks hatched during the week climbed 1 percent higher.

Chicks placed for the week were slightly higher, according to NASS. Broiler growers in the 19-state weekly program placed 165 million chicks for meat production for the week. Cumulative placements from Dec. 29, 2013 through April 5 advanced slightly to 2.37 million.