Here's a formula to use... figure out your average egg usage from the store. Lets say you use 2 dozen per week just for discussion purposes. So you need to get 2 dozen per week. OK. IF each hen lays 5 eggs per week, you will need 5 hens, minimum. But not all hens will lay 5 eggs a week, and you have winter laying slowdown or stoppage, depending on the breed, you have moulting which slows them down, excessive heat can slow them down, etc. So with that in mind, adding one or two more sin't a bad idea, and you can give away or sell any extras. Back during WW1, the basic formula was two hens per family member. But lay rates are higher in most chickens today, so 12 hens probably would be too many. We have 5 EE hens that we keep for some friends. they are 2 adults. One hen isn't laying, the other two have slowed somewhat. The other day my friend told me they have 3 dozen eggs in the fridge........Thanks. Do you think 8 chickens will be enough to supply a family of 6? 2 adults 4 kids