2026 Baby chicks!
Each spring since we opened our barn, we have been thinking about chickens!! More specifically baby chicks, Here is a history:
In 2017, we took a “chicken keeping” class from our friend Tom at Sun Dew Gardens (they have since closed). We learned a lot!
In 2018 - we were given some full grown adult hens that were already laying to start our flock.
In 2019, we received some pullets (baby female chicks) from a friend
In 2020, we ordered from Meyer Hatchery
In 2021 - I don’t remember what we did? (maybe nothing?)
In 2022, we ordered from Meyer Hatchery
In 2023, we ordered from Meyer Hatchery, the only baby chicks available to us (there was an egg and baby chick shortage!) - 15 blue Orpingtons
In 2024, we hatched 15 of our own baby chicks + we ordered 15 baby chicks from Meyer Hatchery (for the 4th or 5th year).
In 2025, we purchased 10 buff Orpingtons from our local Tack Shack.
Now it’s 2026. Tack Shack is still a great option, but their chicks won’t arrive until April 20 this year, and we need ours a little earlier (Our speech therapist Julie is having a small group class on baby chicks!) So I’m back to ordering from Meyer Hatchery again. One of the things I really appreciate about Meyer is how easy their system makes it to choose female chicks. Since hens are the ones who lay eggs, that matters a lot — especially because flocks of hens typically tolerate only about one rooster for every fifteen hens, and extra roosters usually have to be rehomed. Many breeds can be “sexed” right after they hatch based on visible markings, like a black dot on an otherwise yellow fluffy head. Meyer allows you to choose the sex, the hatch date (we need ours in early April), and the breeds — which makes planning our flock much easier.
Here is what we chose this year for 2026…
10 assorted egg layers (we don’t know their exact breeds until they grow up a little!)
1 bonus baby chick to donate the eggs to the community
I LOVE this time of year! It is very exciting that the baby chicks arrive in the mail - from the US Postal Service! Read how this works at a handy blog post here. And watch a video from a previous year here.
I’ll keep you posted!
