Official BYC Poll: How Important Is It That You Get Eggs From Your Chickens?

[CHlCKEN]

Honestly I can’t stand that my hens lay so many eggs because I never have anything to do with them. That prevents me from getting more.

 

[Nnyuu]

For me, eggs are a nice perk. But.... I sold my husband on chickens with the promise of eggs, so these girls gotta help me out a bit and produce enough to placate him

 

[PioneerChicks]

I voted "somewhat important"!

I have a few pets, but the rest of my layers have to lay me eggs or else I'll rehome them. I like to have a few lay throughout the winter if possible.

I need my breeding flock to lay throughout the spring and summer. I don't mind if they don't in the fall and winter.

 

[BDutch]

Eggs are quite important but there is more to chickens than just eggs. My little chickens can stay even when they are no longer laying.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Hmm, I picked "It's a nice benefit" although I do expect to get some eggs. But as long as some of the birds lay, I'm fine with it. I've begun aiming towards breeds that are less productive/a little more decorative for that reason.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

I started off with getting chickens for fresh eggs but then got a rooster and can't resist watching mother hen with chicks in tow! Just so cute!! They all have a purpose or I will rehome them... whether that purpose is they lay me eggs or great mother or they are pretty, have a nice personality, make good chicken tv, protect the flock/produce chicks, backup rooster, backup for backup rooster... ..So egg production isn't as important as it use to be, a few each week is nice to eat and also for a broody to hatch some chicks. But now I have so many eggs I'm giving them away!.. I may have too many chickens

 

[3KillerBs]

I voted "Very Important", since producing food for us independent of the grocery store is one of the main reasons we have chickens and we view them as livestock, not pets.

But I don't choose breeds strictly based on production qualities.

 

[aart]

I chose 'very important', tho I do not have production breeds, I do use supplemental lighting for winter laying.
I keep chickens for food, eggs and meat.
The egg sales pay for the feed.
I used to hatch replacement layers every year,
and also slaughter cockerels and older hens for meat every year.
That may have turned to every other year.

 

[Folly's place]

I don't eat older hens, but this year I'm making an exception; one of our Chantie hens bites, hard, when she's in a nest. Not broody, just seriously defending her space. I'm over it...
Mary

 

[3- CHICKS]

I started raising chickens for fresh eggs, it was the only purpose. But somewhere along the way they stole my heart.

We always get more than enough for us. When they don't lay for a day or two I get concerned about their health more than anything.

Which Harper in my picture is not the everyday giver, it is perfectly normal for her. Once you get to know your chickens, you get familiar with their cycle.

They work their tail feathers off everyday to produce. When I thought about the fact, it's almost like they give birth every single day, it's a new respect for chickens. It is considered a nice benefit going out to collect eggs not a must for my hardworking girls to always have a home.