- Nov 12, 2012
- 9
- 1
- 9
I am interested in eventually getting chickens. My goal is to buy dual purpose chickens to be used for eggs and meat. I would like enough meat and eggs for my family of 6. I am aware that it takes roughly 6 months or longer before hens began consistently producing eggs and would not want to butcher hens that just start producing eggs. So I guess my question is do people use some sort of cycle so that they consistently have a supply of eggs and meat? For example do you just buy straight run chicks and butcher the males and keep the hens and order new chicks yearly or do you invest in a rooster and hatch out chicks once or twice a year? What's more practical and economical? Thanks for any advice!