How many chicks will you hatch in 2026?

[2ndTink]

I just candled 44 eggs and only 15 were fertile, I don’t know how well they were taken care of before I got them?
I have another 30 to candle Sunday that I got from my son.

Bummer there were only 15, its amazing how the hatch rates are impacted even with short jaunts from the coop to a local incubator.

Hopefully the next 30 are doing better!

 

[2ndTink]

Oh I have broodies, just not the kind I want! The bantam pen is chronically broody, 5 members at a time (or more!).

Last time they did not do well with adopting eggs though, and they are generally very clumsy, so I don’t think I’ll let them

I can't say my silkies aren't clumsy, so, sounds like we're in the same boat

 

[SourRoses]

You got me in trouble!

I turned to my mother in bewilderment for help answering...
Well, after she guessed 2 hatches, I was forced to confess I was thinking 8 hatches.
I got some eyeballs pointed at my head

* "Hatches" to be interpreted as a full incubator, then corrected for infertile's and quits.
So overall I want at least 100 this year.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Zero. We have roosters, so any hatching here will be done by the hens, and they haven’t told me their broody plans yet. I’m excited to have some chicks running around though!

X2

 

[LikeTurkeys]

Fun thread!

Mom thinks 200. Little sister thinks 350. I'm thinking somewhere in between?

Going to aim for 300. We'll see how it goes! Need to replace some of my breeding hens (Rhode Island Reds, Buff Orpingtons and Legbars), and RIR lay the best out of those three so probably going to be a lot of those. The rest will be barnyard mix!

 

[2ndTink]

You got me in trouble!

I turned to my mother in bewilderment for help answering...
Well, after she guessed 2 hatches, I was forced to confess I was thinking 8 hatches.
I got some eyeballs pointed at my head

* "Hatches" to be interpreted as a full incubator, then corrected for infertile's and quits.
So overall I want at least 100 this year.

This is hilarious I can see the looks

100 is a solid goal, very attainable.

 

[2ndTink]

I added the following to the first post, for anyone already here and not randomly going back to read the first post, here is is:

If you have a hatch-a-long thread, chick growth journey thread, random chick photos thread or anything 2026 hatching / chick / cuteness related there is an open invitation to add links to the adorableness here!

 

[2ndTink]

Fun thread!

Mom thinks 200. Little sister thinks 350. I'm thinking somewhere in between?

Going to aim for 300. We'll see how it goes! Need to replace some of my breeding hens (Rhode Island Reds, Buff Orpingtons and Legbars), and RIR lay the best out of those three so probably going to be a lot of those. The rest will be barnyard mix!

Yeah, 200 seems a little low

 

[wrathsfarm]

I added the following to the first post, for anyone already here and not randomly going back to read the first post, here is is:

If you have a hatch-a-long thread, chick growth journey thread, random chick photos thread or anything 2026 hatching / chick / cuteness related there is an open invitation to add links to the adorableness here!

So I'm not allowed to post pics of my December babies?

What is up with all these rules? Shheeeesh....

 

[Ridgebilly Gal]

I went crazy last year with chicks but decided I will concentrate on two kind only so I sold all the others once they began laying. I have a small flock of American Bresse so I want to hatch as many as I can through spring. I'll raise them out and then at roughly 16 weeks I'll make my final selection for the keepers and the rest will go in my freezer. I also want to breed midget white turkeys but it will be next year before they can lay since I haven't gotten them yet. I want to keep the freezer full of meat and my flock improving every year. That's the plan anyway but you know how plans go!