Poultry Hatcheries
Description
Poultry hatcheries serve as the foundational engine of the bird production chain, specializing in the artificial incubation of eggs to create day-old chicks for sale. These facilities operate under the umbrella of animal production and aquaculture, focusing exclusively on the breeding and early development stages before the birds are distributed to farms for raising. The primary business activities involve maintaining strict temperature and humidity controls within specialized incubators to ensure high survival rates, managing stock levels of parent birds, and handling the complex logistics of shipping thousands of fragile, newly hatched chicks to various regional distributors. Operators typically fall into two categories: large corporate entities that manage extensive facilities with automated systems for mass production, and smaller, family-owned farms that might focus on specific breeds like broilers or layers. The scale of these operations is massive, as a single large hatchery can produce millions of chicks annually, requiring sophisticated inventory management and regulatory compliance to meet federal and state agricultural standards. This sector ensures a steady, year-round supply of genetically improved poultry, which is critical for the broader meat and egg industries downstream. The economic impact is significant, as hatcheries generate high volume transactions and support a vast network of feedlots, processing plants, and retail markets that depend on this consistent output of starting stock.
Hierarchy
| Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting 2-digit sector | The Sector as a Whole The Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in growing crops, raising animals, harvesting timber, and harvesting fish and other animals from a farm, ranch, or their natural habitats. The establishments in this sector are often described as farms, ranches, dairies, greenhouses, nurseries, orchards, or hatcheries. A farm may consist of a single tract of land or a number of separate tracts which may be held under different tenures. For example, one tract may be owned by the farm operator and another rented. It may be operated by the operator alone or with the assistance of members of the household or hired employees, or it may be operated by a partnership, corporation, or other type of organization. When a landowner has one or more tenants, renters, croppers, or managers, the land operated by each is considered a farm. The sector distinguishes two basic activities: agricultural production and agricultural support activities. Agricultural production includes establishments performing the complete farm or ranch operation, such as farm owner-operators and tenant farm operators. Agricultural support activities include establishments that perform one or more activities associated with farm operation, such as soil preparation, planting, harvesting, and management, on a contract or fee basis. Excluded from the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting sector are establishments primarily engaged in agricultural research (e.g., experimental farms) and government establishments primarily engaged in administering programs for regulating and conserving land, mineral, wildlife, and forest use. These establishments are classified in Industry 54171, Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences; and Industry 92412, Administration of Conservation Programs, respectively. |
| 112 | Animal Production and Aquaculture 3-digit subsector | Industries in the Animal Production and Aquaculture subsector raise or fatten animals for the sale of animals or animal products and/or raise aquatic plants and animals in controlled or selected aquatic environments for the sale of aquatic plants, animals, or their products. The subsector includes establishments, such as ranches, farms, and feedlots, primarily engaged in keeping, grazing, breeding, or feeding animals. These animals are kept for the products they produce or for eventual sale. The animals are generally raised in various environments, from total confinement or captivity to feeding on an open range pasture. The industries in this subsector are grouped by important factors, such as suitable grazing or pasture land, specialized buildings, type of equipment, and the amount and types of labor required. Establishments are classified in the Animal Production and Aquaculture subsector when animal production (i.e., value of animals for market) accounts for one-half or more of the establishment's total agricultural production. Establishments with one-half or more animal production with no one animal product or family of animal products of an industry accounting for one-half of the establishment's agricultural production are treated as combination animal farming classified in Industry 11299, All Other Animal Production. |
| 1123 | Poultry and Egg Production 4-digit industry group | This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in breeding, hatching, and raising poultry for meat or egg production. |
| 11234 | Poultry Hatcheries 5-digit NAICS industry | See industry description for 112340. |
| 112340 | Poultry Hatcheries 6-digit U.S. detail | Poultry hatcheries serve as the foundational engine of the bird production chain, specializing in the artificial incubation of eggs to create day-old chicks for sale. These facilities operate under the umbrella of animal production and aquaculture, focusing exclusively on the breeding and early development stages before the birds are distributed to farms for raising. The primary business activities involve maintaining strict temperature and humidity controls within specialized incubators to ensure high survival rates, managing stock levels of parent birds, and handling the complex logistics of shipping thousands of fragile, newly hatched chicks to various regional distributors. Operators typically fall into two categories: large corporate entities that manage extensive facilities with automated systems for mass production, and smaller, family-owned farms that might focus on specific breeds like broilers or layers. The scale of these operations is massive, as a single large hatchery can produce millions of chicks annually, requiring sophisticated inventory management and regulatory compliance to meet federal and state agricultural standards. This sector ensures a steady, year-round supply of genetically improved poultry, which is critical for the broader meat and egg industries downstream. The economic impact is significant, as hatcheries generate high volume transactions and support a vast network of feedlots, processing plants, and retail markets that depend on this consistent output of starting stock. |
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Index Items
Chicken hatcheries
Egg hatcheries, poultry
Hatcheries, poultry
Poultry hatcheries
Turkey hatcheries
Item.com Tools
External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 112340.
Poultry & Egg Industry Association
Industry trade association providing resources and advocacy for poultry operations including hatcheries.
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service - Poultry and Egg Sector
Government page offering data and statistics on the national poultry industry structure.
ASPA Directory of Poultry Production Companies
Association of Specialty Poultry Farms directory listing member companies including larger hatchery operations.
