Should i get new chicks or wait?

[Lgbchickie]

In April were incubating some eggs that will hatch in may for school and I don't know if I should enter the raffle for one and get two to be its friends or just wait for a broody hen in the summer because our pullets are mostly broody breeds being an Australorp, a Rhode island red, a Dominique, A Buff Orpington /Gold laced Wyandotte mix, and a blue Plymouth/ Gold laced Wyandotte mix and I'm pretty sure most of those are broody breeds so I don't know if I should wait or not

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Um….I have no patience and my answer is always “more chickens” no matter what the question is so…I say don’t wait. I am sure the rest of the enablers here will agree with me

 

[debid]

Well, if you get a hatchling from the raffle, it's a coin flip whether you get a little cockerel chick or a pullet. This is a big consideration from my POV. I'd rather buy 3 sexed pullets than to buy 2 and get one free that has a 50% chance of being a male I cannot keep. And, buying the sexed pullets means I can choose to do so when it's easiest for me to add them to the flock. However, that's my situation. You have to consider yours.

 

[Echelontheory101]

Um….I have no patience and my answer is always “more chickens” no matter what the question is so…I say don’t wait. I am sure the rest of the enablers here will agree with me

Seconded! If eggs are important to you to consider the amount of laying you'll get before their first molt, I usually plan my chicks around that. The earlier in the winter or spring the longer laying you get before first molt. I do chicks in the fall so they start laying february or march and i get the entire spring/summer of first season production before they molt in the fall. If that isnt really top priority though then id say if you have the set up and time now I say go for it haha

 

[Mrs. K]

Two?
Good lord, give me sanity. Just this morning, I am seriously considering buying chicks with another person, minimum order is 25. Straight run chicks - so 50% will be roosters, so really that would give her 6 pullets and me 6 pullets give or take... what kinds should I order...there are so many kinds out there.

Now the reality, is my set up is good for 12-13 birds, and one of those will be a rooster, and I am down to EIGHT. So really I have room for 4-5 new birds...

Chicken math is insane. I have no reason, my set up keeps me in eggs for my family. Don't even go to Sandhills Preservation -the choices are endless, and they only sell straight run.

MRs K

 

[Cinnamon Roll]

I would wait for a broody hen. I don't ever raise my own chicks anymore since my broody hens are so much better at it than I am. They can love and teach those chicks 24 hours a day, I have human responsibilities so I can't do that.

 

[Chixnbacn]

More chicks

 

[Ridgerunner]

Just because you have some breeds that are more likely to go broody than some other breeds is no guarantee that the ones that you have actually will. I've had several of breeds that "go broody" that never did. Pullets often wait until they are a year old to go broody. Or many of yours may go broody at any time. You just don't know.

I personally do not like the idea of just two chicks. If one dies then you have a single chick. Odds are they will both live until they both grow up and merge with the flock but you never know.

If you get chicks from that hatch you will not know if any are pullets or cockerels. Does that matter to you?

It is entirely your call on what to do. I suspect you have already made up your mind are are really looking for affirmation, not advice. Have fun however you decide.