2026 Chick Thread!

[MagistraTn]

I’m planning to add 12 to my flock of 13 (2 BCM -1 may be an austrolop, 3 barred rocks, 2 Wyandottes, I olive egger, 3 ameracunas, 1 bcm roo & 1 Wyandotte roo). I’d rather have a broody, but we have had a massive egg shortage this year (1 egg since early November, I think) & I want to make sure we have new laying pullets going into molting season & shorter days. We also had a stressful move to a new (luxurious)coop which has effected egg production I think.

My cart has 3 each salmon favorelles, blue Cochins, Wellsummer and buff Orpingtons.

 

[AinaWGSD]

I want to hatch 100 chicks this year! I only have Buckeyes and Malines, so they'll either be those breeds or a mix of those. Oh, wait, I forgot about the EE out at the farm!

Rose and her giant boyfriend. I mentioned being tempted to throw some of her eggs in the incubator just to see what hatches and husband, enabler that he is, said 'why not.' We got the buckeyes and malines for hatching meat birds, so EE babies don't quit fit with our plans. But I bet they make cute babies!

As to when...that's the part I'm still working out. I'm thinking about doing a valentines day hatch to kick off. Feb/March weather is unpredictable so it's a bit dicey brooding that early. Though last year we had a late January hatch and they did ok brooding in the garage. And last year 5/6 of the hens in my garage flock went broody. Multiple times. So if they go broody on me again this year I definitely plan on popping some eggs under them.

Of course I'm getting a bit ahead of myself! Only Rose and 1 of my buckeye pullets out at the farm are currently laying (and I haven't seen any brown eggs for a few weeks). And eventually this heat wave will end and the freezing temps will return, which might be an issue for egg fertility and viability in January.

 

[catsndogs4us]

It's fun to think and plan when we are in the middle of winter. I only planned to order 2 bantam calico cochins but somehow 4 jumped into my cart!

 

[2ndTink]

1. What breeds are you getting?
I'm hoping to add some olive eggers! Silkies of course, and some other mixes and whatever I see in the nesting boxes that might "need" to be hatched
2. How many?
2 to 4 pullets for the olive eggers, not sure at all on the others yet
3. Are you hatching, getting day olds or started pullets?
Definitely hatching
4. Are you going to raise them yourself or let a broody do it for you?
They'll be in the brooder, but, I did have hen talk me into allowing her to hatch some chicks last year and chances are she'll sucker me into it again, she's so adorable and was an amazing mom

 

[StinkyAcres]

I plan to finish building out a third coop next year, so will possibly, probably, likely be getting chicks....Olive Eggers and Mottled Houdans are on my list.

I'd also like to breed my Swedish Flower rooster to my healthiest EE hen and try hatching for the first time using my broodiest Muscovy.