Are 4 hens enough for my family of 5?

[coppahed]

I would suggest adding younger pullets. I have 2 groups of six hens. 3 months age difference. hopefully one group molts while the other group lays and vice versa. You may also find that you will consume more eggs once you start eating the home grown ones. I have 1 roo. The neighbors might not mind his crowing so much if they eat free eggs now and again.

 

[Oblio13]

For us the magic number is two hens per person. That gives us just enough eggs when they slow down in the winter, and a surplus in the summer - but we have no trouble giving the extras away, and if we did we could just add them to our dogs' food. I also like to have a few "spares" because every year predators get a few.