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

[BDutch]

Whenever I want to have more chickens I let a broody sit on fertile eggs in spring.

I prefer this method over buying chicks/chickens because I have a healthy and not vaccinated flock and I like to keep it that way.

I do have 4 hens that go broody a few times a year. It’s great to see one or two of them care for their chicks. And this is a more natural, easier and cheaper way to raise chicks as by using an incubator.

There is one con: I always get cockerels this way but there’s only room for one. Sadly enough the ones I kept got too loud, too early in spring and I can’t keep noisy roosters.

When I don’t have a cockerel to fertilise the hens, I buy fertilised eggs whenever chicken math strikes again. I’m doing okay though in maintenance. I managed to have no more then 10 bantam chickens including chicks after 7 years, giving away surplus cockerels and selling one hen with 2 chicks.

 

[PurpleCArTires]

I am addicting to incubating and hatching out my own chicks. This past week we achieved the 90 chicken mark. ... I might want to consider selling a few

I did get 6 silkies this year in hopes a few will be broody and hatch some more chicks for me. Id perfer hen hatched babies over incubator babies, so we will see how it works out.

 

[ILChickenTV]

By being the one in the community who takes the chicks when camps and kids are done with them.

 

[AOrchard]

Usually broody hens or buying day olds, but I've apparently also turned into the animal rescuer for my neighborhood, so people occasionally gift me half blind chickens, chickens that were being picked on, the last surviving chicken from an urban fliok, etc

 

[Auntiejessi3]

So far I have just purchased sexed chicks(6 week olds) I am hoping for a broody to hatch some new additions.

 

[Artichoke Lover]

Incubating. I’d like to have a broody to do the work but none of my current flock are interested sometime time in the next your or so I’m going to try finding either chicks or eggs of some breeds with broody tendencies like Orpingtons or Naked Necks.

 

[Mutchi]

One day I will rescue chickens! At that time I won't care about eggs but I will be breeding hens and roos but right now I buy newly hatched chicks!

 

[1muttsfan]

To decrease risk of introducing diseases, I only add chicks hatched here, either from my own birds or eggs from select breeders.

 

[3KillerBs]

So far, by buying chicks.

I hope to establish a breeding flock but may also buy chicks too.

 

[Cryss]

I do buy a couple of 5 week old or so chicks about once a year. This year I’m hoping to get a broody. I’d like to try letting her raise a flock.