Mistakes to Avoid When Raising Chickens for Eggs

Are backyard chickens worth it?

If you're looking into homesteading, you may be wondering if backyard chickens are really all they're hyped up to be. If you find yourself asking "are backyard chickens worth it?", then it depends on the reason you want them. If you want to be more self-sufficient and have a supply of organic, farm-fresh chicken eggs then I personally believe it would be totally worth it.

Eggs are so healthy and sometimes even the "organic" eggs you find at the grocery store are not all they are cracked up to be! So if you want a source you can trust what better place to look than your own backyard? However, if you are looking to make or save money I do not think it would be worth investing in backyard chickens. Unless you plan to grow it bigger than your backyard.

Here at Faith Farms, we run a goat farm that supplies the milk to make all of the goat milk products in our business, so our chickens are not a source of income for us (at the time of writing this blog post, at least.) However, we love having fresh eggs!

Is raising chickens for eggs cost effective? Is it cheaper to buy eggs or have your own chickens for eggs?

Raising backyard chickens for eggs on a small scale is not cost-effective. If you don't plan to scale and grow to the point you can save money on buying chicken feed in bulk then you may never save money. You can try to offset some costs on feed by feeding them table scraps and letting them free range. It will most likely be cheaper to buy eggs at the store than to raise chickens, especially as a beginner.

However, I personally believe the more knowledge and equipment you accumulate the more cost-effective you can make it! For example, in the beginning, you may have some losses to predators. Chickens are very vulnerable to predators like raccoons, hawks, stray dogs, etc.

There is usually some trial and error when figuring out how to keep your hens safe whether it is buying a more secure coop, getting a livestock guardian dog to keep away predators, and being sure to lock them up every night.

When you can figure out a good system that keeps your hens safe you will have better chance of saving your money on replacing hurt or missing chickens. Check out a few of our chicks below!

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Raising chickens for eggs - do you need a rooster?

This is a common misconception that you need a rooster for your hen to lay eggs. Hens will usually begin laying at about 5 months old and lay eggs for about 3-4 years even without a rooster.

Egg production will slow down when the hens molt and may stop during the winter months when they have less daylight. A rooster is not needed unless you want the eggs to be fertilized and hatch baby chicks.

If you plan to get a rooster you should have one rooster for every 10-12 hens. Otherwise, the roosters will begin harming and bullying the hens.

How Many Eggs do Chickens Lay Naturally?

How many eggs can a chicken lay in a week?

On average a hen will lay 6 eggs a week. It takes a hen 24 to 26 hours to lay an egg so they may not lay one every day. It also depends on the amount of daylight hours and how happy and healthy the hen is. A happy hen will lay more consistently than one who is sick or not well cared for.

You may wonder "Can a chicken lay two eggs a day?" It is very rare, but it can happen occasionally as a chicken is maturing or if a hen is being overfed. An egg with a double yolk is more common than a hen laying two eggs a day though!

How many eggs will 100 chickens lay a day?

If the average chicken lays one egg a day then 100 chickens would lay 100 eggs a day. That is a little over 58 dozen eggs a week!

How many chickens should I raise for eggs?

How many chickens you raise depends on how many eggs you want. If you just want a dozen a week you really only need 2-3 hens. If you want enough to be able to sell or give away then you may want to invest in around 50 chickens. You also need to account for the fact that some may not make it to laying age because of predators or illness.

What foods increase egg production in chickens?

Some foods that can help increase egg production:

• Cayenne Pepper
• Greens
• Lettuce
• Cracked Corn
• Oats

Also, add more light, let them free range, decrease parasites, and make sure they are clean and happy. Do not feed your chickens:

• Apple Seeds
• Apricot Pits and Leaves
• Avocado Skins and Pits
• Beans
• Chocolate
• Raw Potato Skins

The chicken egg production cycle takes about 26 hours and lasts about 15 months until the molting season. A healthy hen can lay eggs for 5 to 10 years.

How to Start Raising Chickens for Eggs

How do I start raising my own chickens for eggs?

If you want to begin raising chickens for eggs in your backyard then here are a few steps you can take beforehand:

1. Find a resource on where to buy the best egg-laying chickens for beginners. Here are a few of our favorite breeds that you can be on the lookout for Rhode Island Reds, Buff Orpingtons, Barred Rocks, Dominiques, and Americanas! You can usually find them at a local farm store or tractor supply, or even order them online to have them shipped directly to you!
2. Figure out what they will live in. When they are little they really do not need too much space. As they grow they will need a safe place to roost and a safe place to lay their eggs as well as some space to find bugs and grass.
3. Read our Beginner's Guide for Raising Baby Chicks! It'll tell you basically everything you need to know. ☺️

How long does it take to raise a chicken for eggs?

A happy and healthy hen will begin laying eggs at about 5 months old. There are 3 stages a chick goes through:

1. Hatchling/Chick: This is weeks 0-8 when the chick first hatches and needs to be kept under a warming lamp because at this stage they only have tiny soft feathers called down. By week 8 they begin moving to the pullet stage.
2. Pullet: This is the adolescent stage when they begin growing real feathers. They are tall and skinny with patchy feathers. This stage lasts about 3 months and by the end of this time at around 18 weeks, they should begin laying small eggs.
3. Adult: An adult chicken will be either a hen or a rooster. The roosters will begin producing sperm at 6 months and the hens will produce eggs at this stage.

Books on raising chickens for eggs

If you are looking for books on the subject here is the best book on raising chickens for eggs in our opinion:

• The Beginner's Guide to Raising Chickens: How to Raise a Happy Backyard Flock (Raising Chickens Guide)

And a few more options:

• Raising Chickens for Beginners: The Complete Guide on How to Get Fresh Eggs Every Day for Your Family. Take Care of The Chicks. Create and Grow Your Own Homemade Chicken Coop
• The Starter Guide to Raising Backyard Chickens: 7 Steps to a Happy Flock, Healthy Eggs and Becoming Self-Sufficient

Disadvantages of Keeping Chickens

What are 3 disadvantages of raising backyard chickens?

While there are numerous advantages of raising chickens there are a few disadvantages we want to warn you about. Here are 3 disadvantages to raising these curious creatures in your own backyard:

1. Poop: Lots and lots of poop. Now this could turn into your advantage if you could compost the chicken poop and use it in your garden as fertilizer or even sell the compost! However, if your chicken's free range then you need to expect the occasional poop on your shoe or foot (if you are outside grounding) haha! You may also find they love to use the restroom on outdoor furniture and porches.
2. Maintenance/Upkeep of Coop: Another place chickens poop a lot is wherever they roost. You will need to regularly clean out their coop which can be a stinky and unpleasant job. If you get a chicken tractor instead of a coop this can cut down on some of the cleaning because the tractor can be moved around. The roosting area will still need to be cleaned though.
3. Losses: Chickens are very vulnerable to predators. It is always a sad day to find that one of your chickens is missing, dead, or injured from a predator attack.

How to Take Care of Egg Laying Chickens