Minecraft 26.1 Snapshot 2 Update: Chicks Get a Long-Awaited Redesign!

With the new year come new changes to our beloved cubic universe! In the recently released 26.1 Snapshot 2, the Mojang development team introduced a series of visual improvements that fans have been waiting for years. The main stars of this update are our feathered friends — baby chickens.

Let’s take a closer look at what exactly has changed in the models and textures, why the developers decided to take this step, and how it will affect your gameplay experience.

Detailed Analysis: The New Chick Anatomy

In 26.1 Snapshot 2, baby chickens received a complete overhaul. Here are the key technical and visual changes:

• New model: The body structure of chicks is now more proportional. The oversized head is a thing of the past, replaced by a model that truly resembles a small chicken, rather than a "head on legs."
• Hitbox adjustment: Along with the visual model, the hitbox (bounding box) has also been updated. Interaction boundaries now precisely match the mob’s new shape. This is important for those building automatic farms: you may need to revisit designs that rely on specific gaps for mob filtering.
• Texture variety: This is perhaps the most exciting addition. Now, a chick’s texture depends on the biome where it spawns! The game files now include the following variations:

• chicken_cold_baby.png — for cold biomes.
• chicken_temperate_baby.png — for temperate climates.
• chicken_warm_baby.png — for warm regions.

This adds depth and realism to the game, making animal farming a visually more engaging activity.

New Version Structure and Technical Details

Beyond aesthetics, the snapshot also introduces changes to the game’s technical "back end." Notably, there’s a new version structure for datapacks (version 96) and resource packs (version 77).

For content creators and modders, this means updating their creations. Baby chicken textures now have new paths and file names. If you use custom resource packs, old baby textures may display incorrectly or not at all until the pack’s author makes the necessary adjustments.

Impact on Gameplay

For the average player, these changes are primarily aesthetic. Your chicken coop will look much more pleasant and realistic. However, the hitbox change might affect some ultra-compact farms or mob transportation mechanisms. We recommend testing your existing mechanisms in creative mode before updating your main survival worlds.

Conclusion

The redesign of baby chicken models is a small but significant step toward visual perfection in Minecraft. Mojang shows that they care not only about adding new content but also about polishing the classic elements of the game.

What do you think of the new chick design? Do you miss the old "big-headed" look, or do you see the new design as a step forward? Share your thoughts in the comments and discussions!