Chick prices remain low, farmers avoid the risk of placing chicks

Last week (November 14 - November 20), South China had a large inventory of broiler chickens, consumption struggled to pick up, broiler prices continued to fluctuate at low levels, and farmers' confidence in restocking remained insufficient, dragging down chick prices; falling temperatures increased disease risks, and most farmers left houses empty or reduced stock to lower operational and epidemic risks; at this stage the overall trend of chick prices is weak. In the Southwest region, as the year-end chicken season in Sichuan draws to a close, integrated farming companies are gradually reducing chick placements, and farmers' enthusiasm for placing chicks is weakening.

Last week's chick prices:

South China: Sanhuang yellow hen chicks: 1.0-1.2 yuan/bird; Partridge hen chicks: 1.2-1.4 yuan/bird, Partridge rooster chicks: 0.5-0.7 yuan/bird; Lingshan native hen chicks: 2.0-2.2 yuan/bird; Silkie chicks: 2.0-2.2 yuan/bird (slow-growing 0.6-0.8 yuan/bird); Yellow-feathered rooster chicks: 0.6-0.8 yuan/bird (slow-growing 0.4-0.5 yuan/bird), hen chicks: 0.6-0.8 yuan/bird.

Southwest region: Fast-growing green partridge rooster chicks: 3.7 yuan/bird, Yellow-feathered rooster chicks: 2.94 yuan/bird, Fast-growing black mixed chicks: 1.3 yuan/bird; Fast-growing green mixed chicks: 1.7 yuan/bird, High-quality green rooster chicks: 8.0 yuan/bird; Green-legged hen chicks: 0.2 yuan/bird.

Yellow-feathered chickens: As the weather turns cold, farmers worry about disease outbreaks, broiler prices are at a loss, confidence has been shaken, and they are in a wait-and-see state. Yellow-feathered chicken prices are expected to run low in the next stage, with slow-growing yellow-feathered roosters at 0.3-0.5 yuan/bird, fast-growing yellow-feathered roosters at 0.6-0.8 yuan/bird, and yellow-feathered hens at 0.6-8 yuan/bird.

Sanhuang yellow hen chicks: Placements have passed the year-end chicken season, branch companies have cut production, and farmers' enthusiasm for placing chicks is poor. Sanhuang yellow hen chick prices are expected to fall steadily in the next stage: hen chick prices at 1-1.2 yuan/bird.

Lingshan native hen chicks: Social chick supply is not large, and the Hunan temperature-controlled chicken market has stopped placing chicks; placements are mainly from local farmers, with average enthusiasm. Lingshan native hen chick prices are expected to remain stable in the next stage, at 2.0-2.2 yuan/bird.

Partridge hen chicks: Broiler prices are not ideal, and the follow-up market is unclear, so farmers' enthusiasm for placing chicks is average. Partridge hen chick prices are expected to fall steadily in the next stage: hen chick prices at 1.2-1.4 yuan/bird.

Partridge rooster chicks: Placements are mainly in Anhui and Shandong, and farmers have slowed down chick placements. Therefore, Partridge rooster chick prices are expected to fall steadily in the next stage: 0.5-0.7 yuan/bird.

Silkie chicks: Social chick supply is relatively low, some farmers' placements have improved, and demand is shrinking. Therefore, Silkie chick prices are expected to remain stable in the next stage: chick prices at 2-2.2 yuan/bird (slow-growing Silkie prices at 0.6-0.8 yuan/bird).

Fast-growing green partridge chicks: Affected by integrated companies releasing inventory, market prices for adult chickens are at a stage low. In the next stage, affected by the end of the year-end chicken season, chick prices will pull back. The current price is 3.7 yuan/bird.

High-quality green partridge chicks: This breed has strong profitability, and due to long-term tight supply, the current price is around 8.0 yuan/bird.

Next stage market forecast:

South China: The chick market is in the off-season, supply and demand are at a low level, and mainly broiler prices are not ideal, dampening farmers' enthusiasm for restocking. Medium-speed breeds have passed the northern year-end chicken season, placement enthusiasm has weakened, and prices have slid accordingly. As the weather turns colder, disease risks and feeding costs increase, farmers place chicks cautiously, so chick prices will run low in the next stage.

Southwest region: As the year-end chicken season in Sichuan ends, broiler prices have entered a low level and gradually stabilised, and social farmers' enthusiasm for placing chicks has declined. Chick prices are expected to gradually decline in the next stage.