Poultry Farms in the United States are central to the country’s food system, supplying chicken, eggs, turkey, breeding stock, hatchery services, feed-linked production, and processed poultry products to retailers, restaurants, food manufacturers, schools, hospitals, and export markets. The sector includes broiler farms, egg farms, turkey farms, breeder farms, hatcheries, contract growers, processing companies, and vertically integrated poultry producers.
The industry is large and highly organized. USDA reported that U.S. broilers, eggs, turkeys, and chicken sales had a combined production value of $70.2 billion in 2024, with broilers accounting for 65%, eggs 30%, and turkeys 5%. USDA’s 2026 release said egg production totaled 105 billion eggs in 2025, down 4% from 2024, while egg production value rose sharply to $31.5 billion.
This guide profiles leading Poultry Farms in the United States, including major broiler companies, egg producers, turkey companies, and specialty poultry operators. It also explains market trends, biosecurity risks, buyer considerations, and how to evaluate poultry suppliers.
Industry Overview: Poultry Farms in the United States
The U.S. poultry sector has three major commercial segments: broilers, eggs, and turkeys. Broilers are chickens raised for meat. Egg producers manage laying hens for shell eggs, specialty eggs, liquid eggs, and egg products. Turkey producers raise birds for whole turkeys, ground turkey, deli meat, foodservice, and further-processed products.
The sector is shaped by vertical integration. Many large poultry companies control or coordinate breeding, hatcheries, feed mills, grow-out farms, processing plants, distribution, and branded products. Independent and contract growers still matter because many birds are raised on farms owned by family operators under contract with larger integrators.
USDA says broiler production and table-egg production expanded from 2015 to 2024, while turkey production declined over the same period. Biosecurity has become a major issue because avian influenza outbreaks have disrupted egg and poultry supply, raised costs, and increased pressure on farms to strengthen disease prevention.
Ranking Methodology
This directory evaluates poultry companies based on U.S. market relevance, production scale, broiler or egg leadership, turkey operations, supply-chain reach, product diversity, biosecurity importance, buyer usefulness, and public visibility.
Best Poultry Farms in the United States
Tyson Foods
Overview
Tyson Foods is one of the largest poultry and protein companies in the United States. It operates across chicken, beef, pork, prepared foods, retail products, and foodservice supply. In poultry, Tyson is one of the most important broiler producers serving grocery chains, restaurants, schools, food manufacturers, and export markets.
Services Offered
Broiler production, chicken processing, prepared foods, retail chicken, foodservice poultry, breeder operations, hatcheries, feed-linked production, and distribution.
Industries Served
Retailers, restaurants, foodservice companies, distributors, schools, institutions, food manufacturers, and export buyers.
Notable Projects
Tyson is listed by WATT among the world’s largest poultry companies, reflecting its scale in broiler production and processing.
Headquarters
Springdale, Arkansas.
Website
tysonfoods.com
Why It Stands Out
Tyson stands out for national poultry scale, retail and foodservice reach, processing capacity, and brand recognition.
Pilgrim’s Pride
Overview
Pilgrim’s Pride is a major U.S. chicken producer and one of the largest poultry companies in the world. It supplies fresh, frozen, prepared, and value-added chicken products to retailers, restaurants, foodservice customers, and international markets.
Services Offered
Broiler production, chicken processing, fresh poultry, prepared chicken, foodservice products, retail chicken, hatchery operations, and distribution.
Industries Served
Retailers, restaurants, foodservice operators, distributors, export markets, and food manufacturers.
Notable Projects
WATT lists Pilgrim’s Pride among the world’s top poultry companies by broiler production scale.
Headquarters
Greeley, Colorado.
Website
pilgrims.com
Why It Stands Out
Pilgrim’s Pride stands out for broiler scale, global poultry presence, and broad chicken product supply.
Perdue Farms
Overview
Perdue Farms is a major family-owned poultry and food company known for chicken, turkey, pork, prepared foods, and branded retail products. It is especially visible in the U.S. chicken market and has a strong consumer-facing brand.
Services Offered
Chicken production, turkey products, organic chicken, no-antibiotics-ever poultry lines, prepared foods, hatchery operations, processing, and retail poultry.
Industries Served
Grocery retailers, restaurants, foodservice companies, distributors, consumers, and institutional buyers.
Notable Projects
Not publicly listed here.
Headquarters
Salisbury, Maryland.
Website
perduefarms.com
Why It Stands Out
Perdue stands out for branded poultry, family ownership, retail visibility, and premium chicken product positioning.
Sanderson Farms / Wayne-Sanderson Farms
Overview
Wayne-Sanderson Farms is one of the largest poultry producers in the United States, formed from the combination of Wayne Farms and Sanderson Farms. It supplies chicken products to retail, foodservice, industrial, and export customers.
Services Offered
Broiler production, chicken processing, fresh chicken, frozen chicken, foodservice products, industrial poultry supply, hatcheries, and distribution.
Industries Served
Retailers, foodservice operators, distributors, industrial food companies, and export buyers.
Notable Projects
WATT’s top broiler company profiles track major U.S. broiler companies by weekly ready-to-cook volume, a key measure of industry scale.
Headquarters
Oakwood, Georgia.
Website
waynesandersonfarms.com
Why It Stands Out
Wayne-Sanderson stands out for large-scale broiler production, national supply, and strong processing capacity.
Koch Foods
Overview
Koch Foods is a major private poultry company producing chicken for retail, foodservice, and industrial customers. It operates hatcheries, feed mills, grow-out farms, processing facilities, and distribution networks.
Services Offered
Broiler production, processing, fresh chicken, frozen chicken, foodservice poultry, industrial poultry products, and distribution.
Industries Served
Foodservice companies, retailers, restaurants, distributors, industrial buyers, and export customers.
Notable Projects
Not publicly listed here.
Headquarters
Park Ridge, Illinois.
Website
kochfoods.com
Why It Stands Out
Koch Foods stands out for private poultry scale, integrated production, and foodservice supply.
Foster Farms
Overview
Foster Farms is a major poultry producer with strong roots in the western United States. It supplies fresh chicken, turkey, prepared poultry, and branded retail products, especially in West Coast markets.
Services Offered
Chicken production, turkey products, fresh poultry, frozen poultry, prepared foods, retail products, foodservice supply, and distribution.
Industries Served
Retailers, restaurants, foodservice companies, distributors, and consumers.
Notable Projects
Not publicly listed here.
Headquarters
Livingston, California.
Website
fosterfarms.com
Why It Stands Out
Foster Farms stands out for regional strength, branded poultry products, and western U.S. market presence.
Cal-Maine Foods
Overview
Cal-Maine Foods is the largest egg producer in the United States. The company describes itself as the nation’s largest egg producer and says it is expanding into specialty eggs and prepared foods.
Services Offered
Shell eggs, specialty eggs, cage-free eggs, organic eggs, brown eggs, egg products, processing, packing, distribution, and prepared egg-related products.
Industries Served
Grocery retailers, foodservice companies, distributors, restaurants, food manufacturers, and consumers.
Notable Projects
Egg Industry listed Cal-Maine as the largest U.S. egg producer in 2025, with Rose Acre Farms second.
Headquarters
Ridgeland, Mississippi.
Website
calmainefoods.com
Why It Stands Out
Cal-Maine stands out for egg production scale, specialty egg growth, and national retail supply.
Rose Acre Farms
Overview
Rose Acre Farms is one of the largest egg producers in the United States. It is a major supplier of shell eggs and egg products and has long been associated with family-owned egg production.
Services Offered
Shell eggs, specialty eggs, liquid eggs, dried eggs, egg products, packing, processing, and distribution.
Industries Served
Retailers, foodservice companies, food manufacturers, restaurants, distributors, and institutional buyers.
Notable Projects
Egg Industry ranked Rose Acre Farms second among U.S. egg producers in 2025, with 25.5 million hens.
Headquarters
Seymour, Indiana.
Website
roseacre.com
Why It Stands Out
Rose Acre stands out for egg production scale, family ownership, and broad egg-product supply.
Butterball
Overview
Butterball is one of the largest turkey producers in the United States and one of the most recognized turkey brands. It is a vertically integrated turkey company supplying whole turkeys, ground turkey, deli products, and further-processed turkey items.
Services Offered
Turkey production, processing, whole turkeys, ground turkey, deli turkey, foodservice turkey, retail products, and distribution.
Industries Served
Retailers, restaurants, foodservice companies, distributors, institutions, and consumers.
Notable Projects
WATT PoultryUSA describes Butterball as a vertically integrated turkey company based in Garner, North Carolina, and one of the largest turkey producers.
Headquarters
Garner, North Carolina.
Website
butterball.com
Why It Stands Out
Butterball stands out for turkey brand recognition, vertical integration, and national holiday and retail turkey demand.
Jennie-O Turkey Store
Overview
Jennie-O Turkey Store, owned by Hormel Foods, is one of the largest turkey producers in the United States. It supplies retail, deli, foodservice, and further-processed turkey products.
Services Offered
Turkey production, turkey processing, ground turkey, deli turkey, whole turkeys, value-added turkey products, retail products, and foodservice supply.
Industries Served
Retailers, restaurants, foodservice companies, institutions, distributors, and consumers.
Notable Projects
WATT reported that Jennie-O ranked second among U.S. turkey companies after slaughtering 930 million live pounds of turkey.
Headquarters
Willmar, Minnesota.
Website
jennieo.com
Why It Stands Out
Jennie-O stands out for turkey production scale, Hormel ownership, and broad retail and foodservice turkey products.
Industry Trends Affecting Poultry Farms
Avian Influenza and Biosecurity
Avian influenza remains one of the biggest risks for poultry farms. Outbreaks have disrupted egg supply, increased costs, and forced producers to strengthen biosecurity. Reuters reported that egg imports were used to ease U.S. supply pressure after bird flu disruptions.
Specialty Egg Growth
Consumers increasingly buy cage-free, organic, brown, pasture-raised, and value-added egg products. Large egg producers are investing in specialty eggs because margins can be stronger than commodity shell eggs.
Contract Growing
Many broiler and turkey farms operate under contracts with larger integrators. Growers provide housing, labor, utilities, and farm management, while integrators often supply chicks, feed, veterinary programs, and processing access.
Automation and Data
Modern poultry farms use climate control, automated feeding, water monitoring, lighting programs, ventilation systems, flock sensors, and digital production records.
Animal Welfare and Retail Standards
Retailers and restaurants increasingly ask poultry suppliers about housing, stocking density, welfare audits, cage-free eggs, antibiotic policies, and third-party certification.
Feed Costs
Feed is one of the largest poultry production costs. Corn, soybean meal, energy, and transport prices affect margins for broiler, turkey, and egg producers.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose Poultry Farms
Match the Supplier to the Product
A restaurant buying chicken tenders, a retailer buying shell eggs, and a manufacturer buying liquid eggs need different suppliers.
Check Food Safety and Certifications
Buyers should review food safety programs, inspection status, recall history, audit results, traceability, and certifications.
Understand Production Standards
Ask about housing, antibiotics policy, cage-free status, organic certification, animal welfare audits, and biosecurity protocols.
Review Supply Reliability
Large buyers should evaluate processing capacity, delivery coverage, cold-chain logistics, product consistency, and contingency plans.
Compare Total Value
Price matters, but buyers should also consider yield, quality, packaging, shelf life, service, delivery reliability, and product format.
Watch for Red Flags
Red flags include weak documentation, poor cold-chain controls, inconsistent sizing, unclear origin, weak biosecurity, limited traceability, and unreliable delivery.
Why Poultry Farms Matter in the United States
Poultry farms supply affordable protein to millions of households and businesses. Chicken and eggs are everyday staples, while turkey remains important for retail, deli, foodservice, and seasonal demand.
The sector supports farmers, feed suppliers, hatcheries, veterinarians, truckers, processing workers, food manufacturers, retailers, and rural communities. Poultry also supports export markets and helps stabilize protein supply when beef or pork prices rise.
As consumers demand affordable, traceable, and responsibly produced protein, Poultry Farms in the United States will remain central to food security and agricultural employment.
Conclusion
The leading Poultry Farms in the United States include Tyson Foods, Pilgrim’s Pride, Perdue Farms, Wayne-Sanderson Farms, Koch Foods, Foster Farms, Cal-Maine Foods, Rose Acre Farms, Butterball, and Jennie-O Turkey Store. Tyson, Pilgrim’s, Perdue, Wayne-Sanderson, Koch, and Foster are major chicken producers. Cal-Maine and Rose Acre lead in eggs. Butterball and Jennie-O are major turkey producers.
For buyers, the best poultry supplier is the one with reliable production, strong food safety systems, clear traceability, biosecurity discipline, product consistency, and the right product format for the market.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best Poultry Farms in the United States?
Some of the best-known Poultry Farms in the United States include Tyson Foods, Pilgrim’s Pride, Perdue Farms, Wayne-Sanderson Farms, Koch Foods, Foster Farms, Cal-Maine Foods, Rose Acre Farms, Butterball, and Jennie-O Turkey Store. The best choice depends on whether the buyer needs broiler chicken, shell eggs, liquid eggs, turkey, specialty eggs, organic poultry, retail products, or foodservice supply.
Who is the largest poultry company in the United States?
Tyson Foods is one of the largest poultry companies in the United States and is listed among the world’s largest poultry companies by WATT. Pilgrim’s Pride is also one of the largest broiler producers, while Cal-Maine Foods is the largest U.S. egg producer.
What is a poultry farm?
A poultry farm raises birds such as chickens, turkeys, ducks, or laying hens for meat, eggs, breeding stock, or hatchery supply. Commercial poultry farms may specialize in broilers, egg layers, turkeys, breeder flocks, pullets, or specialty poultry. Many farms operate under contract with larger poultry companies.
What is the difference between broiler farms and egg farms?
Broiler farms raise chickens for meat. Egg farms manage laying hens that produce shell eggs or egg products. Broiler production focuses on growth, feed conversion, flock health, and processing weight. Egg production focuses on hen health, laying rate, egg quality, housing systems, and packing.
Which companies are the largest egg producers?
Cal-Maine Foods is the largest egg producer in the United States. Rose Acre Farms is also one of the largest egg producers, ranking second in Egg Industry’s 2025 list. Other major egg companies include Daybreak Foods and several regional producers.
Which companies are the largest turkey producers?
Butterball and Jennie-O Turkey Store are among the largest turkey producers in the United States. WATT identifies Butterball as one of the largest vertically integrated turkey companies, while Jennie-O ranked second in recent U.S. turkey rankings.
How do poultry farms make money?
Poultry farms make money by producing meat birds, eggs, breeder birds, or pullets. Contract growers are often paid based on flock performance and farm management, while integrated poultry companies earn revenue from processed poultry products. Profit depends on feed cost, bird health, labor, energy, housing, processing access, and market prices.
What are the biggest risks for poultry farms?
Major risks include avian influenza, feed costs, energy prices, labor shortages, processing disruptions, disease outbreaks, regulatory changes, weather events, animal welfare pressure, and market volatility. Biosecurity is especially important because disease can spread quickly across poultry operations.
What should buyers look for in a poultry supplier?
Buyers should look for food safety systems, reliable delivery, product consistency, traceability, cold-chain controls, certifications, biosecurity, animal welfare standards, product range, and pricing transparency. Large buyers should also evaluate processing capacity and contingency planning.
Why are Poultry Farms important?
Poultry Farms are important because they supply affordable protein, support rural jobs, create demand for corn and soybean meal, supply restaurants and grocery stores, and help maintain food security. Chicken, eggs, and turkey are among the most widely consumed animal protein products in the United States.
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