Poultry market information is from the week of May 3, 2026.
This week, analysts reported that pricing on jumbo breast meat decreased, while medium breast meat and small breast meat remained stable. Small and medium wings declined, as demand has weakened, while jumbo wings were unchanged, analysts reported. Jumbo tender pricing increased, as supply stays tight. Analysts expect pricing to increase on breast meat, tenders and thigh meat during spring. They also report that egg sets and placements were up compared to the same time last year. Analysts expect supply to be balanced and demand to continue to increase in the near term.
Broiler-Type Eggs Set in the
United States Up 3%
Per the weekly USDA Broiler Hatchery report, hatcheries in the United States weekly program set 257 million eggs in incubators during the week ending May 2, 2026, up 3% from a year ago. Average hatchability for chicks hatched during the week in the United States was 79.4%. Average hatchability is calculated by dividing chicks hatched during the week by eggs set three weeks earlier.
Broiler-Type Chicks Placed in the
United States Up 3%
Per the weekly USDA Broiler Hatchery report, broiler growers in the United States weekly program placed 199 million chicks for meat production during the weeks ending May 2, 2026, up 3% from a year ago. Cumulative placements from the week ending January 10 through May 2, 2026 for the United States were 3.33 billion. Cumulative placements were up 2 percent from the same period a year earlier.
Whole Chicken & Cut-Up Parts
Analysts report that small bird and larger whole bird overall demand increased slightly this week, and that pricing has also increased slightly.
Boneless, Skinless Thighs
Analysts report that boneless, skinless thigh meat pricing was flat this week. Spot load offerings of boneless thigh meat are very difficult to uncover, due to retail and high export demand, according to analysts. They expect the market to steadily increase through May.
Boneless, Skinless Breasts
& Chicken Tenderloins
Pricing for jumbo breast meat decreased this week, while medium and small breast meat remained stable, according to analysts. Spot loads of foodservice-packed jumbo breast meat can be difficult to uncover, as most spot product is being offered in combo form, they reported. Demand by Further Processors and the retail segment for breast meat is steady, they said. Analysts expect the jumbo boneless breast market to be flat to upward in the near term. According to industry analysts, some processors are being challenged with labor shortages, bird health issues and transportation issues.
According to analysts, pricing on jumbo tenders rose, while medium tenders remained unchanged this week. Fresh spot loads have been difficult to uncover, and pricing is elevated. Frozen products can be sourced at better price points than fresh product, analysts said. They expect these markets to continue to climb higher through May.
Wings
Pricing for small and medium wings declined this week, while jumbo wings were unchanged, according to analysts. Supplies of spot loads of jumbo fresh wings can be uncovered, but demand has started to improve, they reported. Analysts also predict that due to medium bird processors taking their bird weights up to a jumbo size, the market will continue to see pressure in terms of consistent fresh medium wing availability. Demand from the retail segment and Further Processors for all sizes of wings is unremarkable, according to analysts.
Commodity Trends at Your Fingertips: Dive into the Farmer's Report
The data contained in the Farmer’s Report is provided for informational purposes only, is not tailored to your specific purchasing needs, and is not intended as a substitute for any other publicly-available market data or information. The Farmer’s Report is compiled from the last-received market data provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and/or other market sources, and is subject to change without notice. Nothing herein is the opinion of US Foods®. US Foods neither assumes any legal liability nor makes any warranty or guaranty, either express or implied, regarding the completeness, accuracy or usefulness of this information.