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Check vent spacing and "moistness": https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

I can't do mail order... I'm fine with paying the feed store to open the box and deal with any deceased chicks. :( (Also many hatcheries have minimum orders, so I'd be limited in my options with only getting 3-4 at a time).

He didn't even want them! Now he pesters me yearly about getting new chicks and runs off in the feed store to look when chick days are in session. He's already picking names for the next batch...

You mentioned you still have space to expand so you still have options down the line. Might just need to spread out and minimize your additions in order to balance flock size and harmony with egg production. If I left it up to hubby we'd get chicks every year, and that's not happening!

Realistically you will need to grow the flock or cycle them out as they go, if eggs are your top priority. It would've almost been better if you started with fewer birds and grew the flock over time, for more consistent egg production. I built my set up for 12 but we've never maxxed out, I...