Basic egg laying question

[Alagirl]

Hi everyone,

I am not sure if this is the right place to post this or not, but I have a very simple question about egg laying in chickens. I am working on planning out my flock for when I start raising chickens again. I haven’t raised chickens in a while, but I’m going to start up again, with egg prices the way they are. I figured it would be cheaper.

A little background, last time I raised chickens, I had 10 golden sex links. I had way too many eggs, and had to give most away. I was getting about 9 to 10 eggs a day.

Here’s my question, are there certain breeds of chickens that lay eggs slower, like once every 2 to 3 days? I don’t want to get overwhelmed with eggs like last time.

If that is not possible, how do I preserve eggs and what I do with all the eggs I get?

If you need more details, I will post them. I haven’t built the run or the coop yet. I’m just in the planning stages.

Any help figuring this out will be appreciated.

Jared

I noob myself, I started my chicken journey last May.
I have chickens from breeds that are not producing hybrids. 5 hens give me between 2 and 3 eggs per day on average. One day I have 5, the next maybe one. That is plenty for a family of 3 that do not eat eggs all that much.
I have given some away as I approached the 3 dozen stock.
eggs do last quite a while in the fridge (I have had store bought ones I forgot when I put them in the fridge be just fine)
There are many ways to preserve fresh eggs, but you should have no problems right now finding takers, even for a small fee.
You should be fine if you keep a small flock of pretty chickens.

 

[Alagirl]

Instead of feeding a larger number of lower production hens, wouldn't it be less expensive to feed a smaller number of good production hens?

I think the high production birds have other issues the other breeds might not have.
Like meat birds being destined to die young, one way or another the super layers could be prone to reproductive issues (like laying trouble) that necessitate frequent rejuvenation of the stock.
(I am a noob though. not sure.)

 

[aart]

with egg prices the way they are. I figured it would be cheaper.

It won't be.

 

[David61]

It won't be.

If i didn't sell my eggs it wouldn't be cheaper. The cost of my coop, feed and supplies ... I'm going into my fourth year and should be about to pay off my chicken hobby. The price of feed increased and so did my flock to make it up. If i add my labor cost they would not be free at all.

 

[Coops Dad]

I think the high production birds have other issues the other breeds might not have.
Like meat birds being destined to die young, one way or another the super layers could be prone to reproductive issues (like laying trouble) that necessitate frequent rejuvenation of the stock.
(I am a noob though. not sure.)

"Good production" not high production like a Golden Comet or such. A breed like a Brown Leghorn or Ameraucana where there's a decent feed:egg conversion. A few of those would keep a family in omelettes a couple of times a week.

 

[Iluveggers]

Maybe do 4 chickens this year, and 4 next year? I agree that heritage breeds would be better, and will go a step further and suggest getting different breeds. I have a mixed flock, so that I have some birds known for laying through the winter and slowing in the summer. This way they are all not molting or taking breaks at the same time. Thinking Brahma, Faverolles, Orpington, Chantecler as winter layers. Adding in sets of 4 every couple of years would give you eggs when the older group takes a break.

Edit: My Faverolles and Easter Egger lay the least frequently as of now, so I would guess they will lay a longer amount of years. Of course, there’s no guarantee but lots of breeds gives lots of laying patterns & breaks.

 

[David61]

4 more the second year. Maybe even the third depending on the breed. My ISA Brown is going her forth year and i might get one egg a week. My buff the same age i get three a week.

 

[Alagirl]

"Good production" not high production like a Golden Comet or such. A breed like a Brown Leghorn or Ameraucana where there's a decent feed:egg conversion. A few of those would keep a family in omelettes a couple of times a week.

my Ameraucana type birds lay the most consistent. My RIR hen lays the biggest eggs.
I would have been fine with 3 hens, buuuuut the noob mistake
All the pretty chickens.
Unless I add run space I am at capacity.
We shall see.

 

[Coops Dad]

My RIRs are egg machines; XL brown eggs 4-6 a week each. My Ameraucanas are just coming back into lay since I added lights to their run, and they're popping out 4-6 each a week. Beautiful M/L blue-green to light blue eggs. If I was OP, I'd get 2 or 3 hatchery Rhodies and call it good. They're productive, they forage well and they're one of my consistently engaging chicken breeds.

 

[TimF]

Hi everyone,



I am not sure if this is the right place to post this or not, but I have a very simple question about egg laying in chickens. I am working on planning out my flock for when I start raising chickens again. I haven’t raised chickens in a while, but I’m going to start up again, with egg prices the way they are. I figured it would be cheaper.



A little background, last time I raised chickens, I had 10 golden sex links. I had way too many eggs, and had to give most away. I was getting about 9 to 10 eggs a day.



Here’s my question, are there certain breeds of chickens that lay eggs slower, like once every 2 to 3 days? I don’t want to get overwhelmed with eggs like last time.



If that is not possible, how do I preserve eggs and what I do with all the eggs I get?



If you need more details, I will post them. I haven’t built the run or the coop yet. I’m just in the planning stages.



Any help figuring this out will beDon't get so many chickens appreciated.



Jared