Broiler chick placements show decrease in Georgia, US

Georgia's broiler chick placements totalled 1.37 billion for 2009, down 5% from 2008.

However, Georgia continued to lead the US in broiler chick placements during 2009 with nearly 16% of the 19 states' total, according to USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service Georgia Field Office.

Broiler eggs set for 2009 totalled 1.63 billion, down 6% from 2008. Broiler chickens hatched for 2009 totalled 1.36 billion birds, down 5% from 2008. Georgia hatched more broiler chicks for 2009 than any other state in the US.

The number of chicken hatcheries in the South Atlantic Region was reduced by one hatchery to a new total of 79 hatcheries on January 1, 2010. The total capacity of the region totalled 292 million eggs, which was down from 2009's 295 million egg capacity. The South Atlantic Region accounts for 33% of the total US capacity.