Hens for Eggs
The Best Hens For Eggs
Raising backyard hens has become a popular family hobby. It is part of the “back to basics” and healthy eating trend.
Most chickens can be expected to lay five eggs a week. So four to five laying hens will mean about 2 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.
If you only want to produce eggs to eat, you will not need to deal with a rooster, which is a big perk. Roosters can be aggressive and downright mean. So unless you get a really docile breed of hens (even then the rooster won’t be as nice as the hens), your rooster will be trouble.
Picking the Right Chicken
The best egg laying breed of chicken is the White Leghorn. They begin laying large white eggs at about five months of age and will do so almost daily for 3 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:
Look for hens 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 chicken needs at least 4 square feet of space at the minimum. Close confinement leads to stress, which means fewer eggs. They need space for exercise, so more is better.
Pick a docile breed if your chickens are going to interact with children.
Small Business Ventures in Chicken Eggs
Selling fresh eggs can be a great family hobby 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.
If you decide to have a rooster and fertile eggs for hatching, you can sell the fertile eggs for incubation projects for students, or sell baby chicks.
This becomes even more profitable if you have a breed of chickens that is rare or endangered. Online sales of these eggs can be done all year.
Be sure to learn how to pack eggs for shipping. It’s not as hard as it sounds. A double box into which a snugly-fit, bubble-wrapped egg is placed is the key. Eggs are shipped this way without problems everyday. If you wish to save some money, a DIY Chicken Coop may just be what you’re looking for.
If you are going to incubate or sell eggs for incubation, then you should know that you should not wash the eggs. Just brush off any loose dirt. Washing the egg removes a protective layer on the outside of the shell.
Chicken keeping or eggs can be both fun and profitable.