Production included 6.62 billion table eggs, and 1.10 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.03 billion were broiler-type and 66 million were egg-type. The number of layers during January 2006 averaged 349 million, up slightly from a year earlier. January egg production per 100 layers was 2,211 eggs, up 1 percent from January 2005.

All layers in the U.S. on February 1, 2006, totaled 349 million, up slightly from a year ago. The 349 million layers consisted of 291 million layers producing table-type eggs, 55.6 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.90 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on February 1, 2006, averaged 70.8 eggs per 100 layers, up 1 percent from February 1, 2005.

Egg-Type Chicks Hatched Down 7 Percent

Egg-type chicks hatched during January 2006 totaled 35.4 million, down 7 percent from January 2005. Eggs in incubators totaled 33.5 million on February 1, 2006 down 2 percent from a year ago. Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 188,000 during January 2006, up 20 percent from January 2005.

Broiler-Type Chicks Hatched Up 1 Percent

Broiler-type chicks hatched during January 2006 totaled 804 million, up 1 percent from January 2005. Eggs in incubators totaled 661 million on February 1, 2006, up 1 percent from a year earlier. Leading breeders placed 6.83 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during January 2006, up 6 percent from January 2005.

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Source: USDA NASS - Chickens and Eggs Report - 28th February 2006