WASHINGTON – Hatcheries in the 19 state weekly program set 206 million eggs in incubators during the week ending Aug. 23, an increase of 2 percent compared to a year ago, the US Department of Agriculture said in its weekly Broiler Hatchery report.

Average hatchability for chicks hatched during the week was 83 percent.


Broiler chicks placed for meat production gained 1 percent to total 168 million chicks, according to USDA. Cumulative placements from Dec. 29, 2013 through Aug. 23 were 5.85 billion, up slightly from the same period a year ago.