Chickens for Eggs
Keeping Chickens for Eggs
Chicken keeping has become a popular family passtime. It is part of the “back to basics” and healthy eating trend.
Most hen breeds lay about five eggs a week. So 4 to 5 laying hens will mean about two dozen eggs a week. Check the breeds that you are interested in and make sure they have the qualities you want. The best layers will not usually sit on eggs (be broody), but some of the breeds that are just a little less productive will set the eggs for you if you plan to raise chicks.
No rooster is required if you plan to just focus on egg production. Even in docile breeds, roosters are often mean, noisy, and can wreak havoc amongst a flock.
Choosing a Chicken Breed
The White Leghorn is the best laying breed. They begin laying at about five months of age and will continue to do so almost daily for three years or more.
Red and Black Stars are friendly and are excellent egg layers. They lay large brown eggs almost every day.
Consider these things before choosing from the hundreds of hen breeds available:
Be sure your choice of breed will do well in your climate. Some can adapt, but many do not do well in cold climates.
Be sure you have enough space – an adult hen needs at least four square feet of space, minimum. This means 16 feet of space per four chickens. More is always better. They need exercise, close confinement increases stress in hens that can cause them to stop laying.
Be sure to pick a docile breed if your children will interact with them.
Small Business and Eggs
Selling fresh eggs can be a great family passtime or even a small business.
If you have the room, free ranging your hens or going completely organic can bring a high price for their eggs.
Fertilized eggs can be sold as incubation projects for students or you can hatch them yourself and sell the chicks.
These endeavors become even more profitable if you choose hens that are rare, heritage breed, or endangered species. Online sales of these eggs can be done all year.
Be sure to learn how to pack eggs for shipping. It is not as difficult as you might imagine. It just takes lots of bubble wrap around each individual egg plus a snug fit in a double box. Eggs are shipped this way without problems everyday. Have you ever thought about constructing a DIY chicken coop?
If you are going to incubate or sell eggs for incubation, then you should know that you should not wash the eggs. Brush off loose dirt, but nothing more as washing them can remove a protective layer that resides on the outside of the shell.
It is fun to keep hens and with a little planning, it can be profitable as well.