DemeterAD9
Songster
- Mar 21, 2024
- 864
- 1,742
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Hatching season is over and I more or less have an idea of what birds to breed from come spring. Not looking to go all out like I did last year with hatching eggs from every hen as I'd like to focus on just a handful in particular. With that in mind, I also have plans to do some mixing up and adding of new breeds. Been lurking on the Meyer hatchery website and they are now taking orders for 2026! As we all know, most hatcheries are already sold out of the choice breeds come spring when people are looking to buy. Better to order sooner rather than later right? So I'm currently working on my new wish list of birds I don't need but want. Feel free to post your own poultry wish lists and next year's chicken goals.
For 2026 I want to improve the feather patterns and reduce the comb sizes so no one gets frostbite too bad like my current blue CM rooster got it last winter. I plan to replace him with a rose or pea combed cockerel, currently thinking of a dark brahma or perhaps a BBS wyandotte as that would add some nice feather patterns to the mix. Also want to replace the dark brahma hen who had health problems bad enough where I ended up culling her, she was a favorite.
I have a meat bird project that will hopefully revolve around my Cornish cross x (BJG x SLW) cockerel chick who is only 11 weeks old. I'd like to maybe get another meat bird type to cross him/his offspring to later down the road. Been thinking about trying the new naked neck broiler breed, Pioneer broilers, but they only ship them with a minimum of 25. They ship separately from their layer breeds too so that would mean 2 separate shipments. Maybe I can talk some family members into splitting the group. I can think on that later as they have loads of them in stock.
This year I somehow ended up with 2 kahki ducks, a male and female. I wanted Muscovy ducks as I hear they are pretty chill but here we are with the 2 I have. Depending on how it goes through winter, I may or may not get the breed I want. May just process the 2 and say adios to water fowl altogether.
I also hatched 2 male heritage type turkeys this year and they are fun to watch but kinda mean to anyone and anything who isn't me. I'm hoping they don't go crazy some spring breeding season or I'll have to butcher one or both of them. Really wish one was a hen. Maybe I'll try my luck again and see about raising a handful more if I can find heritage breeds at the feed store. If I end up doing that I may as well try raising guineas with them as I hear they are delicious. This would be more of an impulse decision if the timing is right.
The current breeds I'm thinking of ordering from Meyer (min order 15 for cheaper shipping price)
-2M 1F dark brahma
-2F Hatchery choice rare breeds
-1F BBS cochin
-2SR BBS Wyandotte
-7SR Cornish cross (to round up to 15)
+ the two freebies, meal maker and homestead helper
And unlike last year, I will not impulse buy random layers from the feed store. That was a mistake and now I have 5 birds I don't know what to do with as I don't plan to breed from.
For 2026 I want to improve the feather patterns and reduce the comb sizes so no one gets frostbite too bad like my current blue CM rooster got it last winter. I plan to replace him with a rose or pea combed cockerel, currently thinking of a dark brahma or perhaps a BBS wyandotte as that would add some nice feather patterns to the mix. Also want to replace the dark brahma hen who had health problems bad enough where I ended up culling her, she was a favorite.
I have a meat bird project that will hopefully revolve around my Cornish cross x (BJG x SLW) cockerel chick who is only 11 weeks old. I'd like to maybe get another meat bird type to cross him/his offspring to later down the road. Been thinking about trying the new naked neck broiler breed, Pioneer broilers, but they only ship them with a minimum of 25. They ship separately from their layer breeds too so that would mean 2 separate shipments. Maybe I can talk some family members into splitting the group. I can think on that later as they have loads of them in stock.
This year I somehow ended up with 2 kahki ducks, a male and female. I wanted Muscovy ducks as I hear they are pretty chill but here we are with the 2 I have. Depending on how it goes through winter, I may or may not get the breed I want. May just process the 2 and say adios to water fowl altogether.
I also hatched 2 male heritage type turkeys this year and they are fun to watch but kinda mean to anyone and anything who isn't me. I'm hoping they don't go crazy some spring breeding season or I'll have to butcher one or both of them. Really wish one was a hen. Maybe I'll try my luck again and see about raising a handful more if I can find heritage breeds at the feed store. If I end up doing that I may as well try raising guineas with them as I hear they are delicious. This would be more of an impulse decision if the timing is right.
The current breeds I'm thinking of ordering from Meyer (min order 15 for cheaper shipping price)
-2M 1F dark brahma
-2F Hatchery choice rare breeds
-1F BBS cochin
-2SR BBS Wyandotte
-7SR Cornish cross (to round up to 15)
+ the two freebies, meal maker and homestead helper
And unlike last year, I will not impulse buy random layers from the feed store. That was a mistake and now I have 5 birds I don't know what to do with as I don't plan to breed from.
but are also active and curious about their surroundings. Small sample size of 3, but they came from 2 different orders and all act the same. So I may add another pair of hens next time I order. 
