Anybody raising chicks this Spring?

[BarredBuff]

I'm getting ready for the Spring, and eagerly waiting to rebuild my flock. I am culling out the old hens, and a few others that need to go. I am replacing them with:

10 Black Australorps
10 Rhode Island Reds
10 Dominiques
10 White Rocks
10 Buff Orpingtons

I haven't raised chicks in 5 years, but these babies should be in at the end of March. I've not had any Dominique and Rhode Island Red hens since 2009. So, I am excited to get that back to the homestead. Never raised White Plymouth Rocks.

Anyone else buying or hatching baby chicks for the Spring?

 

[Chic Rustler]

Just loaded the incubator last night. Hoping for a good hatch

 

[Beekissed]

Broodies...can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em.

 

[canesisters]

Hoping one of my hens will go broody again this spring. I'd like to try to get her to hatch out some of the blue and green eggs in hopes of adding a few more of those to the laying flock.
My blue layers are a cream legbar and a couple of EEs. But also have speckled Sussex, J giants in black and blue, rose-comb RIRs, a blue cochin, a couple of barnvelders, a couple of marans of various types, some turkins, a couple of exchequer leghorns, red-laced and silver-laced wynadottes and one lone australorp.

 

[FarmerJamie]

My eldest spent the day with me. We had a great time. Her idea to pop into TSC. We talked about the "chicken days" of times past. She wants me to get back into it. Well, part of the 2020 possibilities

 

[BarredBuff]

Just letting my hens do whatever they want to do this year. But I love my Dominiques, they're my absolute favorite breed. Where are you getting your chicks from?

Dominiques are the best all around chicken I have ever raised. I'll be glad to bring them back.

I'm ordering from Cackle Hatchery. That's where I ordered in the past and always had good turnouts. Chicks were healthy and did well later in life. Missouri is close to Kentucky, and that distance helps.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I've already got my new chicks this spring...I ordered 25 and a mix of Black Australorps, Naked Necks, and Ameraucana. Naked Necks are fast becoming one of my favorite breeds. I know, I know - they're ugly, lol. But they lay well, brood their own babies and they make a pretty good carcass with less feathers to mess with! They are very heat tolerant but surprisingly they're pretty cold tolerant - at least here. I like 'em!!

 

[NH Homesteader]

Good to know, my doms are from local breeders but that gets expensive! My dom roos have been so fantastic with the hens. Gentle with them , protective, make sure they're taken care of... But also try to protect them from us, lol. They've been fairly trainable though.

I have one orpington hen. I like her alright, she's a good layer anyway.

 

[SustainableAg]

Raising a few here in April! Black Australorps, Khaki Campbell Ducks, and a Roman Tufted Goose.

 

[Hinotori]

I may pick up a few ameraucana this year, but mostly it will only be silkies. I'm lazy and have plenty of chicken volunteers so everything is raised by silkies here.