Meat Birds versus Egg Layers

[aart]

Now I'm worried that some of my hens arent going to be good layers because of their breed!

What breeds do you have?
How many eggs did you expect to have?
Most all breeds are not steady layers all year around.

 

[Chickassan]

How many is a bunch?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Oh I see. I was just wondering because of your comment that you "couldn't afford" to keep hens that are not good layers. Lol, I couldn't afford to keep even the best layers if I was expecting to break even or make a profit. I guess that might happen if I had them by the thousands, which would totally defeat the purpose. I just like having them, they make good neighbors. And the eggs and tick control, too, of course!

 

[Shadrach]

I'm so confused! I went to my local feed store in February, and chose a bunch of chicks based only on how they looked...different colors, sizes, shapes... I thought a variety would be fun. Now I'm worried that some of my hens arent going to be good layers because of their breed! I cant afford to keep a bunch of chickens that arent laying any eggs, but now I'm attached to them all and the thought of any of them being killed makes my stomach turn. I just cant do it. Any suggestions? Advice? Help!

I didnt get into this to make money, that's for sure. Everyone has chickens around here at well, so they give eggs away by the dozen. They have already given me hours of entertainment, and I'm enjoying raising them. But I would like to have enough eggs to feed me and the dogs, and to give to my local food bank and friends who can enjoy them. I just always assumed that if I had chickens, the reward for all of my hard work and care would be an abundance of fresh, delicious eggs. Maybe I'm looking at it the wrong way?

Everybody else has been very kind and empathetic.
I realise that buying stuff on impulse happens to us all. The thing is, as you've found out, chickens are not stuff, they're live creatures with personalities.
It is too late now and my comment below is not so much directed at you as others who may read this, hopefully before the impulse strikes.
Don't buy chickens on impulse especially not based on the variety will be fun criteria.
As some have mentioned above, most hens will lay eggs.
Forget about the egg laying statistics. Most of the statistics are based on hens at peak laying cycle. After two to three years old the egg production drops off and the degree it drops off depends on a lot of factors but breed and genetics are a couple of the most important.
If you need to have egg production to finance your chicken habit then the usual route is to kill your hens at the end of year two. If you are breeding from your hens (I see you have a rooster) then you let your best hens sit and hatch some chicks each year. This will keep some of your flock at peak laying age and provide a reasonable number of eggs if you do the math right.
The males that get hatched you kill and eat.
It doesn't strike me from what I've read in your posts that the above is a strategy you would want to adopt.
Accept you have some lovely creatures in your garden and they are in reality pets.
Make sure they have the best life you can give them ..........................oh yeah, stay away from the feed and farm stores.

 

[Mrs. K]

The easiest way to cheapen up the cost of chickens is to reduce the numbers. I keep a flock and the chickens in the flock come and go. Regardless of the breed, most chickens, especially chickens bought at a store, are not real long lived birds. This really can make unprepared people feel guilty.

My granddaughter says it best, "Well that sucks, but it is the circle of life, and now we can get new chicks."

With 4 leghorns and probably a couple of EE's, you are going to have a lot of eggs for a while, but egg production is very variable through out the year.

Good luck, it is a wonderful hobby.

Mrs K

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Rotational flock management = steady supply of eggs.
The first two laying cycles are generally the most productive of a bird's life. First year pullets are less effected by the shorter daylight hours of winter and rend to lay right on through....but it can take some time for their egg size to reach expected size for their breed. Second year layers produce consistent size and frequency. The subsequent cycles see progressive declines in quantity and quality of eggs until the bird reaches the age of being unproductive.
The way to capitalize on this is to rotate your flock, taking advantage of these first two cycles and avoiding the less return on investment cycles. So, this first flock you have now will be laying shortly....and, depending on breeds, lay reasonably through winter and excellently next spring. Next spring start enough chicks to replace about 1/2 of your existing flock (a great time to try any new breeds you want to explore).....about the time those pullets start to lay your original group will be bearing their first molt, when they may experience a stoppage of production. Sell (or process, etc) 1/2 of the older birds. The new birds lay through winter, the older birds *may* return to production too but may take the winter off and resume laying in the spring.....lather, rinse, repeat, starting new and selling/processing the older 1/2 of your flock. Because the second year birds will still lay for a few more years (just not at the same rate and quality) they have value and are generally able to attract a buyer looking for a casual layer flock.