2026 Chick Thread!

[BladeBoundMagus]

Lord Jesus willing we will be making our Myer's order tomorrow

Fingers crossed. What happened to me was probably a fluke, and they do have good customer service.

 

[Iluveggers]

Unfortunately Ideal has welsummer hatch dates being in May which is way too far out. And while I did consider McMurray, I don't want to order extras and then not be able to turn around and sell them at cost. I did try getting friends in to order with me, but unfortunately they can't this year .

Variety does sound nice though, and McMurrary does have dates that are about as soon as Cackle's.

McMurray does have a minimum order of 6 starting May 1….but I should have mentioned Mt Healthy hatchery as well, minimum of 3 starting April 1, minimum 10 if you are ordering in colder months. They also allow ordering single pullets of any breed. Their chicks have probably been the heartiest of any I have ordered. And just FYI they include 1 extra of something in your order (if all pullets, it will be a pullet of one of the breeds).

 

[2ndTink]

Idk, I thought they would be hardier from what I've read. I think next time for them I'll go more local and try again, because they are pretty. Where did you get yours from?

Also update, my husband decided he wanted silver laced wyandottes too. No experience with them but "they look cool." I'll be getting them instead of the orpingtons.

If anyone knows of good hatcheries or breeders specific to Barnevelders, let us know!

Any chance the hatchery has silver laced orpingtons? Then you'd have the breed you want and they look similar (in my experience my hubby wouldn't notice the comb difference )

I have limited experience with SLW, they came from a hatchery (farm store purchase) and I wasn't very impressed with them. They didn't lay very well and they weren't very big eggs for the size of the hens, they were bullies, ate a ton, one was a feather picker and ate the ends of everyone else's feathers. Also one had a single comb. I know it's just my experience and if I got them again I'd get them from a breeder and probably love them, but... if you need some real world not so great experience to throw out there

 

[2ndTink]

McMurray does have a minimum order of 6 starting May 1….but I should have mentioned Mt Healthy hatchery as well, minimum of 3 starting April 1, minimum 10 if you are ordering in colder months. They also allow ordering single pullets of any breed. Their chicks have probably been the heartiest of any I have ordered. And just FYI they include 1 extra of something in your order (if all pullets, it will be a pullet of one of the breeds).

I've had some good chicks from Mt Healthy as well! The feedstore that buys from them, their chicks always did better for me than anything I ever bought from TSC. I have 6 year olds from My Healthy that are still going strong!

 

[Auntiejessi3]

A bit early? Sure, but I can't be the only one thinking about getting chicks next year. Post about your plans here!

1. What breeds are you getting?

2. How many?

3. Are you hatching, getting day olds or started pullets?

4. Are you going to raise them yourself or let a broody do it for you?

Go wild and when the time comes, post pictures!

What a great idea!
1. What breeds are you getting?

I currently have 10 of my various OE's and BC's in the incubator, 24 Dominant White Ameraucana eggs on the way, 12 Ermine eggs coming the week after, and a dozen Blue Wheaten Marans eggs coming the week after that.

2. How many?

That is yet to be determined, lol. I still haven't decided who's staying, who's going, and what I want to move forward with.

3. Are you hatching, getting day olds or started pullets?
Hatching

4. Are you going to raise them yourself or let a broody do it for you?

It will be a combination of both; there is never a shortage of broodys at my place.

I got the itch pretty early this year, and just couldn't resist

 

[BladeBoundMagus]

Any chance the hatchery has silver laced orpingtons? Then you'd have the breed you want and they look similar (in my experience my hubby wouldn't notice the comb difference )

I have limited experience with SLW, they came from a hatchery (farm store purchase) and I wasn't very impressed with them. They didn't lay very well and they weren't very big eggs for the size of the hens, they were bullies, ate a ton, one was a feather picker and ate the ends of everyone else's feathers. Also one had a single comb. I know it's just my experience and if I got them again I'd get them from a breeder and probably love them, but... if you need some real world not so great experience to throw out there

They actually do have SL orps! That was what I originally wanted. I'm going to tell him this and see what he thinks.

 

[2ndTink]

They actually do have SL orps! That was what I originally wanted. I'm going to tell him this and see what he thinks.

Good luck!

 

[BladeBoundMagus]

McMurray does have a minimum order of 6 starting May 1….but I should have mentioned Mt Healthy hatchery as well, minimum of 3 starting April 1, minimum 10 if you are ordering in colder months. They also allow ordering single pullets of any breed. Their chicks have probably been the heartiest of any I have ordered. And just FYI they include 1 extra of something in your order (if all pullets, it will be a pullet of one of the breeds).

Oh no. Mt Healthy has golden deathlayers. My poor wallet... Must resist.

The 10 minimum is perfect though, as I'm aiming for end of Feb.

 

[hammyanne]

Idk, I thought they would be hardier from what I've read. I think next time for them I'll go more local and try again, because they are pretty. Where did you get yours from?

Also update, my husband decided he wanted silver laced wyandottes too. No experience with them but "they look cool." I'll be getting them instead of the orpingtons.

If anyone knows of good hatcheries or breeders specific to Barnevelders, let us know!

I got mine from Alchemist Farms! Along with 10 other chicks (she included four extra). All the others are very healthy and I def recommend her as a source. She’s bred her Barnies to be a bit smaller than the standard, which made me wonder if maybe that affected health? Otherwise I do recommend them!

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Must resist.

Good luck