August 9

8/9 - Despite good broiler egg production, the number of chicks being hatched just isn’t growing. Year-to-date (through July) eggs set in incubators are up 2.4% from a year ago and 2.6% above 2019. However, chicks placed for grow-out are just 0.5% above a year ago and 0.1% higher than 2019. And it’s getting worse. July chicks placed was 1.1% below a year ago and 0.7% less than 2019. Chicken supplies in cold storage on July 1st was down 14.8% from a year ago, with thigh meat down 54.1%; wings -17.5%, and breast meat -9.2%. As a result, prices are just obscene. Wings at $3.22 are roughly a $1.00/lb higher than the previous record high in 2017. Chicken tenders at $2.91 are also record high. Processors just don’t have the labor. Any further processed products that require hand cutting/deboning or pulling (tenders) are be priced at multiples never seen before.