WASHINGTON – Broiler-type eggs set and chicks place were up slightly, the US Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics service reported.

Hatcheries in the 19 state weekly program set 203 million eggs in incubators for the week ending May 3, a slight increase compared to a year ago, according to NASS. Average hatchability for chicks hatched during the week was 83 percent.


Broiler-type chicks placed for meat production were up slightly. Broiler growers in the 19 state weekly program placed 167 million chicks for meat production. Cumulative placements from Dec. 29, 2013 through May 3 declined slightly to 3.07 billion, NASS reported.