Poultry market information is from the week of March 1, 2026.
This week, analysts reported that pricing on all sizes of breast meat and tenders remained stable, jumbo wings declined, and thighs increased again, as supply remains tight. Analysts expect pricing to increase on breast meat and tenders through March. They also report that egg sets and placements were up compared to the same time last year. Analysts expect supply to be stable, and demand to continue to increase in the near term.
Broiler-Type Eggs Set in the
United States Up 2%
Per the weekly USDA Broiler Hatchery report, hatcheries in the United States weekly program set 254 million eggs in incubators during the week ending February 28, 2026, up 2% from a year ago. Average hatchability for chicks hatched during the week in the United States was 78.5%. 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 2%
Per the weekly USDA Broiler Hatchery report, broiler growers in the United States weekly program placed 194 million chicks for meat production during the week ending February 28, 2026, up 2% from a year ago. Cumulative placements from the week ending January 10 through February 28, 2026, for the United States were 1.56 billion. Cumulative placements were up 2 percent from the same period a year earlier.
Whole Chicken & Cut-Up Parts
Analysts report that small birds 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 has increased this week. Spot load offerings of boneless thigh meat are difficult to uncover, due to retail and high export demand, according to analysts, who expect the market to steadily increase through March.
Boneless, Skinless Breasts
& Chicken Tenderloins
Pricing for small, medium and jumbo breast meat was flat this week, according to analysts. Spot loads of jumbo breast meat can be uncovered, with pricing starting to improve, 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 increase in March. According to industry analysts, some processors are being challenged with labor shortages, bird health issues and transportation issues.
According to analysts, all sizes of tenders were stable this week. Fresh jumbo spot loads have been uncovered with slight discounting. Frozen products can be sourced at better price points than fresh product, analysts said. They expect these markets to climb higher in March.
Wings
Pricing for small and medium wings was unchanged this week, while jumbo wings declined, as they try to find a floor, according to analysts. Supplies of spot loads of jumbo fresh wings can be uncovered, as demand has weakened, 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 steady, 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.