How many chicks will you hatch in 2026?

[Debbie292d]

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!

Sooo, how many do you think combined you'll be hatching? I think it sounds like a lot! Several dozen or more?

 

[2ndTink]

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

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

Who can say no to cute chick pictures, we can consider it a warm up for tomorrow.

For the last week, "this year", "next year", and "last year" have all been a little muddled anyway

 

[2ndTink]

It's 2026! You know what that means all the "No More Chicks (Chickens) Until Next Year" rule is null and void

Let the hatching and chick buying madness begin!!!!

 

[wrathsfarm]

Happy New Year !!

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Happy new year, Tink!

Unfortunately, there won't be a whole lot of hatching from my birds this year Thinking I'll try to hatch about a dozen of my silkied BBS Cochin bantams per pen just to keep some fresh birds around until I have more time to focus on them. I lost my rooster from my blue band pen last year, so probably nothing from them until or unless I can replace him before too late in the year. And nothing at all from my mixed flock next year. I just don't have the time for frivolous hatching right now! So I guess that puts me at only about 24 chicks out of my own birds

From other farms, however, I may or may not be in talks for a spot on a waitlist for some hatching eggs out of some really gorgeous smooth-feathered Black Cochin bantams to infuse into my silkieds All dependent on price point and timing of arrival, of course, with quantity to be determined based on those factors.

 

[Altairsky]

My broodies have yet to communicate me their 2026 breeding plan.

 

[LuciferRoo]

I really should not be hatching any. My flock is just a backyard flock, and I currently have 24 chickens total (17 are juveniles).
That being said, I have one Easter Egger rooster and one hen, whose offspring are what I would describe as Smoke Easter Egger looking chicken. Right now I have two such pullets and I find them quite pretty. If they start laying blue or green eggs, I will be extremely tempted to hatch the eggs from that pairing.

I will be trying to resist. I am in the process of building a new chicken coop and really do not want to have to build another

 

[Ridgebilly Gal]

Sooo, how many do you think combined you'll be hatching? I think it sounds like a lot! Several dozen or more?

I think I'll stop at 100. That's about all I can handle with chicken tractors through my orchard. But, I may keep hatching after that if I have a market for my hatchlings. It's addictive and hard to stop. During the hatching season, I see every egg as a potential chick!

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

I’ve got 54 eggs preordered and plan to start up a Silverudds programs, so…. 100?

Who knows what my chronically broody hen is planning for…

I love silverudds! I’m also hoping to add a few more. I think I’ve decided this is my favourite breed.

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

Well I just ordered 14 hatching eggs this morning so looks like I’ll start with that! I ordered salmon faverolle, chantecler, lavender astrolorp and one lone Hmong egg!

I have one young rooster, so I’ll also incubate some of my own eggs later in the spring and also let my broodys sit on a few eggs as well. My rooster is a svart hona so I’m super curious to see those mixes! Then I might get some more silverudd eggs later in the spring as well!