The American poultry industry is booming, with chicken consumption reaching record highs. As someone who’s been tracking agricultural trends for years, I’ve noticed a significant uptick in questions about the scale of chicken farming in the United States. Let’s dig into the most recent data and explore just how many chicken farms exist across America.
The Current Count of US Chicken Farms
According to the latest 2022 Census of Agriculture released by the USDA in 2024, there are 168,048 farms in the United States that produce and sell poultry and eggs. This represents a 2.4% increase from the 164,099 farms reported in 2017.
While not all of these are exclusively chicken farms (some raise other poultry like turkeys and ducks), chickens make up the vast majority of American poultry production. In fact chicken accounts for more than 95% of all poultry consumed in the US.
Types of Chicken Farms in America
Chicken farms in the US generally fall into two main categories
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Broiler Chicken Farms – These farms raise chickens specifically for meat production Broiler chickens grow incredibly fast, typically reaching slaughter weight in just 6-7 weeks
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Layer Chicken Farms – These operations focus on egg production. Layer hens typically begin producing eggs at around 18-20 weeks of age.
The 2022 Census of Agriculture shows that the inventory of broiler chickens increased by 7% since 2017, reaching 1.74 billion birds. Similarly, layer chicken inventory grew by 6% to 388.5 million birds.
Top Chicken Producing States
The poultry industry is heavily concentrated in certain regions of the country. According to the latest data, the top chicken producing states are:
- Georgia – Over 11,000 farms and 1.3 billion chickens
- Alabama – Over 7,000 farms and 1.2 billion chickens
- Arkansas – Over 8,500 farms and 1.1 billion chickens
- North Carolina – Over 6,000 farms
- Mississippi – Around 5,500 farms
These five states alone account for a significant portion of the nation’s chicken production. In terms of sales, North Carolina ($9.2 billion), Georgia ($8.0 billion), and Arkansas ($7.7 billion) are the top three states, accounting for nearly one-third (32.5%) of total poultry and egg sales in the US.
The Structure of the Chicken Farming Industry
The American chicken industry has become highly centralized over the decades. Currently, just 20 companies control approximately 95% of all chicken farms in the United States. Even more striking, over 50% of production is dominated by just four major producers:
- Tyson Foods
- Pilgrim’s Pride
- Sanderson Farms
- Mountaire Farms
Tyson Foods, with 123 food processing plants, ranks as the largest poultry producer in the US, commanding a 25% market share.
Contract Farming Dominates the Industry
An interesting aspect of chicken farming in America is the prevalence of contract farming. Most chicken farmers don’t actually own the birds they raise. Instead, they contract with large corporations like Tyson Foods or Pilgrim’s Pride.
The 2022 Census data reveals that broiler contractees (farmers raising chickens under contract) accounted for 73% of farms with broilers but produced 97% of all broilers. Similarly for turkeys, contractees represented 36% of farms but were responsible for 75% of production.
This means less than 5% of farms are truly independent operations managed by families who own their business. The vast majority operate under contract with major poultry corporations.
The Scale of US Chicken Production
The scale of American chicken production is staggering:
- In 2022, 9.2 billion broiler and other meat-type chickens were sold
- The US had 388.5 million egg-laying hens as of December 31, 2022
- The total value of poultry and egg sales in 2022 was $76.5 billion, a 56% increase from 2017
On average, each American consumes over 90 pounds of chicken per year, making it the most popular meat in the country.
Economics of Chicken Farming
Farms specializing in poultry and egg production have some distinctive economic characteristics:
- Average farm size: 94 acres (compared to 463 acres for all US farms)
- Average sales: $1,030,420 (significantly higher than the $285,762 average for all farms)
- Average net cash farm income: $408,449 (much higher than the $79,790 average for all farms)
- Feed costs: The largest expense, accounting for $28 billion or 59% of total production costs
Despite the higher average income, only 36% of poultry and egg farms reported positive net income, highlighting the volatility and challenges within the industry.
Who’s Running America’s Chicken Farms?
The demographics of chicken farmers differ somewhat from the overall farming population:
- Average age: 52.1 years (younger than the 58.1-year average for all US farmers)
- Gender: 43% of poultry and egg producers are women (compared to 36% across all agriculture)
- New farmers: 47% have been farming for 10 or fewer years (versus 30% of all US farmers)
- Farm residency: 89% live on their farms (versus 70% of all US farmers)
The Growth Trend in Chicken Farming
The number of chicken farms in the US has shown remarkable growth over recent decades. Back in 1992, there were just 75,444 chicken farms in America. By 2017, that number had more than doubled to 164,099, and now in 2022, it has grown further to 168,048.
This growth directly correlates with increased chicken consumption in the American diet. As health-conscious consumers have shifted away from red meat, chicken has become the protein of choice for many Americans.
Challenges and Future Outlook
Despite its economic significance, the chicken farming industry faces several challenges:
- Animal welfare concerns: Factory farming practices have drawn criticism for cramped conditions and practices like debeaking
- Environmental impact: Farm runoff can pollute nearby land and waterways
- Antibiotic resistance: Overuse of antibiotics in chicken production contributes to drug-resistant bacteria
- Market volatility: Feed costs and chicken prices can fluctuate dramatically
However, there are promising developments as well:
- Growing demand for free-range and organic chicken: Consumers are increasingly willing to pay premium prices for chicken raised under more humane conditions
- Corporate commitments: Major food chains like McDonald’s and Walmart have pledged to improve welfare standards in their supply chains
- Sustainable practices: Some producers are adopting cleaner production methods
With 168,048 poultry and egg farms operating across the United States as of 2022, the chicken industry remains a cornerstone of American agriculture. The sector has shown remarkable growth and continues to evolve in response to changing consumer preferences and market conditions.
As we look to the future, we’ll likely see continued consolidation within the industry, alongside growing niches for specialty producers focusing on organic, free-range, and humanely raised chicken products.
Whether you’re considering starting a chicken farm, researching the industry, or just curious about where your food comes from, understanding the scale and structure of American chicken farming provides valuable insight into a critical part of our food system.
Which Animals Count As Poultry?
Although the term “poultry” comprises many different birds, the overwhelming majority of the sector is chicken-based. In 2022, 87 percent of all poultry consumed by Americans was chicken, according to the National Chicken Council. American consumers spent $132 billion on chicken the next year year, and 381,164 American workers were directly employed by the chicken industry.
In the poultry industry, chickens are generally divided into two categories: broiler chickens, who are bred to become meat, and layer chickens, who are raised to lay eggs.
How Many Poultry Farms Are There in the U.S.?
As of 2017, the most recent year for which data is available, there were 164,099 poultry farms in the U.S., according to the Department of Agriculture. That’s a 117 percent increase from 1992, when there were only 75,444 farms in the country.
This increase correlates with Americans’ rising appetite for chicken. But it’s not necessarily a positive development, as the poultry industry today inflicts massive harm on both animals and the environment (as we’ll get into in a minute).
How 520 Million Chickens Are Raised By American Farmers – Chicken Farming
FAQ
How many poultry farms are there in the US?
Among these farms supplies poultry products directly to the top poultry companies in the USA. How many poultry farms are in the US? Current data estimates over 164,099 poultry farms exist in the US. 90% of these farms have a mix of broiler chickens and egg laying birds for production.
What percentage of the world’s farmed chickens are chickens?
Chickens make up 94 percent of the world’s farmed poultry. There are two different classifications of chicken raised in the poultry farming industry: broiler chickens and laying hens. These chickens are raised solely to be slaughtered and eaten.
How many chickens are in the US?
With an inventory of more than 224 million turkeys and 518 million chickens, the poultry business in the US is thriving. (Source) At Carlisle Technology, we love data and actionable insight. For that reason, we’ve worked on creating a useful summary of chicken industry insights from the United States. We hope you enjoy the read!
How many farms sell poultry & eggs?
Every five years, the USDA publishes a Census of Agriculture and while the 2022 report is due to be released in 2024, the 2017 report showed that there were 164,099 farms that sold poultry and eggs. Although most of these farms are small, the majority of production takes place on larger farms.
Which country produces the most chicken?
According to official numbers by the United States Department of Agriculture, Alabama produces the most chicken with a total production of over 6 million pounds. Arkansas is the second largest producer of chicken in the United States and Delaware is the third on the list. Which country has the biggest poultry industry?
How many chicken processing plants are there in the US?
There are 2,979 federally inspected chicken processing plants in the U.S. What state in the US produces the most chickens? According to official numbers by the United States Department of Agriculture, Alabama produces the most chicken with a total production of over 6 million pounds.
How many farm chickens are in the US?
Since chickens are slaughtered at about 42 days old, this means ~1.2 billion broiler chickens are alive in the US at any given time. When we add the number of egg-laying hens in the US (374 million), we get a US population of ~1.5 billion chickens.
Who owns most of the chicken farms in the US?
According to WATT PoultryUSA, 95 percent of chicken farms are controlled by 20 companies, and more than half of those farms are controlled by just four producers: Tyson Foods, Pilgrim’s Pride, Sanderson Farms, and Mountaire Farms.
Where are the chicken farms in the US?
Chickens are raised throughout the US, but major broiler (meat) production centers include Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama, North Carolina, and Mississippi. For laying hens (eggs), Iowa, Ohio, and Indiana are top producers. While production for meat and eggs often occurs in different regions, some states like Georgia are dominant in broiler production, and others like Iowa are leading in egg production.
Who is the largest chicken farm in the US?