The Best Chickens For Eggs
It has become popular to raise and keep a small flock of hens for eggs, as a passtime for many families. It is a growing part of the “back to basics” trend.
Most chicken breeds lay about five eggs a week. So 4-5 laying hens will mean about two dozen eggs a week. Learn the breeds, as each have different qualities. Most good layers will not brood eggs (sit on them), so if you are interested in raising a new generation of chicks, you will need to consider that in your plans.
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.
Picking the Right Chicken
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 3 years or more.
Red and Black Stars are friendly and are excellent egg layers. They will lay large brown eggs almost daily.
Consider these things before choosing from the hundreds of hen breeds available:
Look for chickens that will thrive in your climate. Some are adaptable, while others won’t do well in cold climates.
Consider how much space you have. An adult hen needs at least 4 feet of space at the minimum. Close confinement leads to stress, which means fewer eggs. They need space for exercise, so more is better.
A docile breed will be best if children will be involved.
Eggs and Small Business Ventures
Keeping hens for eggs can be a great family passtime or an excellent home business.
If you have the room to free range the chickens, then the eggs will bring a much higher price. You can also go completely organic and they will bring even more.
Fertilized eggs for hatching can be sold as incubation projects for students or you can sell the chicks.
These endeavors become even more profitable if you choose chickens that are rare, heritage breed, or endangered species. Many of these eggs are sold on the Internet all year round.
Learn how to pack eggs safely for shipping. It is not as difficult as you might imagine. A double box into which a snugly-fit, bubble-wrapped egg is placed is the key. Many have shipped and received eggs this way without a mishap. Have you ever considered building a DIY Chicken Coops?
If you will be incubating or selling the eggs for incubation, they should not be washed. Brush off loose dirt, but nothing more as washing them can remove a protective layer that resides on the outside of the shell.
Keeping chickens for eggs is fun and, with the right planning, can be quite profitable.