New Year, New Chickens at Cackle Hatchery in 2025

With the New Year comes new opportunity. Many people use this time to reflect on the year that has passed and plan for the year to come. This is also the time when people make resolutions, aiming to change some part of their life in the following year. With the idea of trying something new in mind, why not branch out and bring home some new chicken breeds in 2025? Cackle Hatchery has a dozen new breeds available for pre-order. Here's what you should know about each of them:

Paint Silkie Bantam - We sell the Paint Silkie Bantam as baby chicks only. There's no sexing available. They're shipped anywhere from early Feb. through mid-August. There's a limit of five to an order.

Light Sussex Chicken - The Sussex is an ancient chicken breed from Sussex County, England. This breed nearly became extinct until the early 1900s, when a group of Sussex farmers got together to bring it back from extinction. Several color varieties resulted, including the Light Sussex chicken.

The Sussex breed was first imported to the United States in 1912. The American Poultry Association standardized the Light variety in 1929. The stunning Light Sussex chicken combines black and white plumage with a bright red upright single comb, red wattles, and red ear lobes. Its feather pattern consists of white plumage with black trim on the tail and around the neck. Originally intended as a meat bird, the Sussex has a large, blocky body. Many chefs proclaim the meat to be superior in flavor and succulence. Sussex hens are good layers, producing around 250 eggs per year. They will occasionally go broody. When they do, they are good mothers. As well as being a dual-purpose egg-and-meat breed, the Sussex makes a wonderful backyard pet. It is especially calm, gentle, and people friendly. And the Sussex breed has an innate curiosity that makes these chickens both interesting and entertaining. The Sussex does well in all climates. However, with tight feathering and a large comb, this breed prefers cool weather over heat. In a mixed flock the Sussex tends to be less assertive than other breeds. These chickens rarely fly, therefore are easy to confine. Although the breed does well in confinement, the Light Sussex chicken also enjoys spending time free ranging. Cackle Hatchery® is pleased to offer the Light Sussex chicken in addition to the original Speckled Sussex variety.

Ermine Ameraucana Chicken - Ermine Ameraucana have a rare and stunning color pattern consisting of solid white plumage scattered with solid black feathers. This pattern results from a single dominant white gene modified by genes that control how much black leaks through. The classic ermine pattern is about 85% white, with the rest consisting of an even sprinkling of black feathers. When mating ermine to ermine, the chicks will be approximately 50% ermine. Half of the remainder will be solid white and the other half solid black. Each Cackle Hatchery® order for ermine Ameraucana will include some chicks with the ermine pattern, some black chicks, and some white chicks. All chicks will have the ermine gene. As non broodies, ermine Ameraucana hens are reliable layers of large eggs. They lay as many as 200 eggs per year in varying shades of blue to blue-green. Like other Ameraucanas, the ermine variety has a pea comb, beard and muffs. Also like other Ameraucanas, this variety has a genetic predisposition to scissor beak or cross beak, which affects approximately 1 out of 100 chicks. Inherent to the Ameraucana breed is a genetic beak issue. One out of 100 chicks may have cross beak in some degree of severity. Cross beak is the same condition as scissor beak. In this condition the top and bottom beak do not align. And it normally gets worse as the chick grows. Numerous articles about cross beak are also on the internet. You can find more information about this issue on our Cackle Hatchery blog. Ermine Ameraucana are docile and friendly. In addition to their striking appearance, this trait makes them especially wonderful as backyard pets. For a list of the best blue egg layers visit Cackle Hatchery’s Best Blue Egg Layers Blog.

Dorking Assortment - Experience the charm and history of one of the oldest and most cherished chicken breeds with our Dorking Assortment. This unique collection includes a variety of Dorking chickens, such as the classic Red Dorking and the stunning Slate Red Dorking, offering you the opportunity to raise heritage poultry with exceptional qualities. The Red Dorking is a cornerstone of backyard flocks, recognized for its deep historical roots dating back to Surrey, England. Known for its distinct five-toe trait, calm temperament, and rich red plumage, this dual-purpose breed excels in both egg production and meat quality. Hens are reliable winter layers and dedicated mothers, while the roosters boast striking red coloration with black accents. Adding a rare twist to this assortment is the Slate Red Dorking, a beautiful variation featuring eye-catching blue feathers instead of the traditional black. Known as “blue-breasted red” in other breeds, Slate Reds are a rare gem, ideal for enthusiasts seeking a unique and visually stunning addition to their flock. This variety also produces splash and black (Standard Red) variants, adding further diversity to your backyard. Dorking chickens are celebrated for their blocky, horizontal body structure, exceptional meat quality, and ability to thrive in both warm and cold climates. They are friendly, excellent foragers, and perfect for family-friendly environments or small-scale farms. Whether you’re a seasoned poultry keeper or just starting out, the Dorking Assortment brings beauty, history, and utility to your backyard.

And if you want something to look forward to throughout the year, here are some breeds that will be available for 2026:

Partridge Brahma

Isabel Brahma

Red Dorking

Slate Red Dorking

Lavender Brahma

Buff Laced Brahma

Partridge English Orpingtons

Lavender English Orpingtons

Black English Orpingtons