Official BYC Poll: How Do You Expand Your Egg Laying Flock?

[BYC Project Manager]

The top reason why people raise chickens is for their eggs (according to our poll: Why Do You Have Chickens). Some may want more eggs for personal consumption, reselling, or for increasing their current flock. There are multiple ways to expand the egg-laying flock, so we would love to know: How Do You Expand Your Egg Laying Flock?

Place your vote above, and please elaborate in a reply below if you chose "Other".

Further Reading:

• Factors That Influence Egg Laying
• What Affects Egg Laying & How To Increase Egg Production

(Check out more Official BYC Polls HERE!)

 

[Cecisflock]

Rescue hens is a dream of mine though!

 

[Brooks_]

Incubation, though I haven't done it yet. I think that will suit my needs best. There are some breeds I would like...and have to buy, but it would have little to do with eggs.

 

[Sally PB]

I'm buying some more chicks. I want Blue Australorps, specifically, and the hatchery that my local TSC uses doesn't have them. So I'm buying from The Chick Depot.

I would love to breed some one day...

 

[Willow2253]

I’ve gotten a few through incubation and hatching naturally, but by far most of my hens have been purchased as chicks.

 

[WallyG74]

Incubating is an addiction. I am at full capacity for my setup. I have 14 chicks still left to sell. I would love to set a new batch right now. I had to make myself stop until I can take my family on vacation and complete my 2021 chicken expansion. I used to think it was crazy to see people on here with multiple incubators. I now have 2!

 

[ButtonHoarder]

I’ve always just bought newly hatched chicks, but I would like to start incubating some of my own too.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I only buy sexed chicks. I have 2 small coops, capacity is 6 and 7. So I can have a total of 13, but never had more than 10. Currently I have 7 hens, four 12 months old and three 32 months old.
I got them for the eggs, but also enjoy having them.

I replace the older hens as needed. GC

 

[rascal66]

We incubate some eggs and whatever chicks don't sell, ultimately become a part of the flock. Along with some hand picked chicks that I save to keep anyways its addicting sometimes......lol

 

[BReeder!]

No roos allowed here sadly. My drake certainly is an active breeder though. My dicks have not proven to be good at brooding though... so it's incubating duck eggs or buying hatchling chicks and ducklings.