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Broiler Chick Placements, January-February 2026

According to the February 18th 2026 USDA Broiler Hatchery Report, 1,268 million eggs were set over five weeks extending from January 17th through February 14th 2026 inclusive. This was approximately two percent higher compared to the corresponding period in 2025.

Total chick placements for the U.S. over the five-week period amounted to 979 million chicks. Claimed hatchability for the period averaged 79.2 percent for eggs set three weeks earlier. Each 1.0 percent change in hatchability represents approximately 1.96 million chicks placed per week and 1.86 million broilers processed, assuming five percent culls and mortality and within the current range of weekly settings.

Cumulative chick placements for the period January 4th through December 27th 2025 amounted to 10.00 billion chicks up approximately one percent from calendar 2024. Chick placements for 2026 to date have attained 1.18 billionin 2026 to date, up two percent from the corresponding period in 2025.

According to the February 23rd 2025 edition of USDA Chickens and Eggs, pullet breeder chicks hatched and intended for U.S. placement during January 2026 amounted to 8.10 million, up 4.2 percent (0.36 million pullet chicks) from January 2025. Broiler breeder hen complement attained 60.55 million on February 1st 2026, 2.2 percent (1.38 million hens) down from January 2025 but 0.6 percent (343,000 hens) higher than January 2026.

Broiler Production 2026

As documented in the February 19th 2026 USDA Weekly Poultry Slaughter Reports for the processing week ending February 14th 2026, 172.2 million broilers were processed at 6.52 lbs. live. This was 3.5 percent more than the 166.8 million processed during the corresponding week in February 2025. Broilers processed in 2026 to date amounted to 1.117 million, 4.0 percent less than the 1.131 million during the corresponding period in 2025.

Ready to cook (RTC) weight for the most recent week in February was 853.2 million lbs. (386,925 metric tons). This was 2.8 percent more than the 830.1 million lbs. during the corresponding week in February 2025. Dressing percentage was a nominal 76.0 percent. For 2026 to date RTC broiler production attained 5,888 million lbs. (2.670 million metric tons). This quantity was 3.6 percent more than for the corresponding period in 2025.

The USDA posted live-weight data for the past week ending February 14th and YTD 2026 including:-

November 2025 Frozen Inventory

According to the February 24th 2026 USDA Cold Storage Report, stocks of broiler products as of January 31st 2026 compared to January 31st 2025 showed differences with respect to the following categories:-

• Total Chicken category attained 794.7 million lbs. (360.4 thousand metric tons) corresponding to approximately one week of production based on recent weekly RTC output. The January 31st 2026 inventory was down 1.2 percent compared to 803,966 million lbs. (346.6 thousand metric tons) on January 31st 2025 and down 3.7 percent from the previous month of December 2025.

• LegQuarters were down 27.6 percent to 47.8 million lbs. compared to January 31st 2025 consistent with the data on exports. Inventory was down 6.7 percent from December 31st Given the trend in inventory of leg quarters it is evident that this category continues to be shipped in varying quantities as the principal (96 percent) chicken export product to a number of nations.
• The Breasts and Breast Meat category was down 5.9 percent from January 31st 2025 to 234.1 million lbs. indicating a relatively higher domestic consumer demand for this category possibly reflecting concern over inflation in the cost of alternative proteins. The January 31st 2026 stock level was 4.1 percent lower than December 31st The trend through 2025 suggests stable retail and food service demand for the white meat category. This is despite promotion of chicken sandwiches and wraps by QSRs in the face of a higher cost for beef coupled with an increasing pattern of eat-at-home consumption.

• Total inventory of dark meat (drumsticks legs, thighs and thigh quarters but excluding leg quarters) on January 31st 2026 decreased 8.3 percent from January 31st 2025 to 64.1 million lbs. This difference suggests an increase in domestic demand for lower-priced dark meat against the prevailing price of white chicken meat. Higher prices for competitive proteins offer an opportunity to increase domestic demand for this category with innovative product development and promotion.

• Wings showed a 6.2 percent decrease from January 31st 2025, contributing to a stock of 50.7 million lbs. Inventory of wings was 7.7 percent lower compared to the end of December 2025. Movement in stock over the past 12 months has demonstrated slightly higher demand for this category despite competition from “boneless wings.” Increased consumption traditionally associated with significant sports events including College bowls and the NFL Super Bowl traditionally reduce the volumes of storage in January and February. Unit price increased progressively during 2024 but plateaued in 2025 due to consumer fatigue and competition from competing protein snacks despite continued interest in professional and collegiate football.

• The inventory of Paws and Feet was 21.2 percent lower than on January 31st 2025 to 27.1 million lbs. Stock was 1.6 percent lower than on December 31st Prior to the April 2020 Phase-1 Trade Agreement approximately half of the shipments of paws and feet destined for Hong Kong were landed and transshipped to the Mainland, a trend that is re-emerging.
• The Other category comprising 347.6 million lbs. on January 31st 2026 was up 10.2 percent from January 31st 2025 but represented a substantial 42.7 percent of inventory. The high proportion of the Other category suggests further classification or re-allocation by USDA to the designated major categories.

January 2026 Processed Broiler Production

The monthly USDA Poultry Slaughter Report was released on February 20th 2025 covering January 2026. The month comprised 22 week-days, one less than January 2025. The following values were documented for the month of January 2026:-

• A total of 799.1 million broilers were processed in January 2026, down 25.1 million or 3.0 percent from January 2025;
• Total live weight in January 2026 was 5,324 million lbs., down 155.8 million lbs. or 2.8 percent from January 2025;
• Unit live weight in January 2026 was 6.66 lbs., up 0.01lb. (0.2 percent) from January 2025.
• RTC in January2026 attained 4,033 million lbs., down 107.3 million lbs. or 2.6 percent from January 2006.
• WOG yield in January 2026 was 75.8 percent, up from 75.6 percent in January 2025.
• The proportion marketed as chilled in January 2026 comprised 93.2 percent of RTC output compared to 93.6 percent in January 2025.
• Ante-mortem condemnation as a proportion of live weight attained 0.21 percent during January 2026 unchanged from January 2025.
• Post-mortem condemnations as a proportion of processed mass corresponded to 0.45 percent during January 2026 compared to 0.48 percent in January 2025.

Comments

Mexico has recognized the OIE principle of regionalization after intensive negotiations between SENASICA and the U.S. counterpart, USDA-APHIS assisted by USAPEEC. Provided importing nations adhere to OIE guidelines on regionalization, localized outbreaks of avian influenza or possibly Newcastle disease will affect exports only from states or counties with outbreaks in commercial flocks. The response of China, Japan and some other nations is less predictable with bans placed on a nationwide or statewide basis. The response by China to outbreaks is influenced more by self-interest than considerations of scientific fact or international trade obligations. Other importing nations have confined restrictions to counties following the WOAH principle of regionalization. The challenge facing the U.S. as the second largest exporting nation after Brazil, will be to gain acceptance for controlled vaccination against HPAI in specific industry sectors and regions with appropriate surveillance and certification to the satisfaction of importing nations.