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

[ZANEYchickenguy]

For most urban chicken farmers, you raise chickens for eggs so having them only for pets isn't something I see.

 

[FluffyBottomBantams]

We only have bantams so the eggs are small, but they lay as well as standard sized hens we’ve had in the past. Because we don’t like eating store bought eggs and avoid it when possible, and we hatch and breed in the spring, it’s somewhat important that they lay but they’re only pets and for exhibition.

 

[Niki1313]

Somewhat important, we are a family of 5. We don't use artificial lighting, we have a few hybrids and a few heritage. Usually when I make scrabble eggs it take a dozen eggs.

 

[sewingkitty1170]

I chose it’s a nice benefit. I originally got my hens for eggs, but they turned out to be wonderful feathered pets! I love their individual personalities, the way they hang out around me when I sit in a chair, their love for dandelions, bugs and the occasional blue bellied fence lizard. They are my gardening buddies and Friday night cocktail hour friends! I adore my chickens!!! And yes, Rosie jumped into my martini glass! LOL!

 

[1dog1cat6chicks]

We got our first batch of hens because our daughter wanted them. She was in high school and we got production reds from TSC. When she went to college we have them to a friend of hubby’s, coop and all. Then a few years later our daughter and I decided we’d like to have chickens again...we bought a new shed and hubby fitted it out for the newly acquired pullets, this time heritage breeds. Gradually she seemed to lose interest so they basically became my hens. I was ok with this, the care wasn’t that much and I was the one eating most of the eggs anyway....and the thoughts of grocery store eggs.......the way those poor chickens live....
Now we’ve added three Easter eggers to our three remaining heritage hens. I can confidently say they are 90% my responsibility though hubby does help.
while I enjoy the eggs, I really enjoy the chickens, just sitting and watching them can be so relaxing. They’re more than just egg producers to me.

 

[Cecisflock]

I did other because my family eats store eggs only and I don't eat eggs so they usually get them fed back. But I need eggs to breed, obviously so they have to lay throughout the year for me

Can I ask why your fam does not eat the eggs?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Can I ask why your fam does not eat the eggs?

My parents have seen the bird eat mice and dog poop multiple times. My dad just thinks they're "contaminated" egg because of that. Obviously they're not, but I think the visuals just ruined it for him. I just don't like eggs myself, farm fresh or storebought

 

[Emirasan]

Eggs are the main reason I have my flock, but I didn't get production breeds, just ones for laying certain colors of eggs. I do plan on culling some out of my flock at some point since they were not the breed advertised, but they lay decent eggs so I'm not in a big hurry to do it. Once I get my "perfect" flock, I won't care if they're laying a lot of eggs or not.

 

[Kaye Pek]

Somewhat important. The primary reason we're getting chickens is because I like chickens. The secondary, still very significant reason is fresh eggs for the rest of the fam (I don't eat them), but because we have a larger family, the number of eggs is important to us. We'll be getting heritage breeds, but I'm narrowing down breeds based on their laying as well as temperament.

 

[Mutchi]

Eggs are the main reason I have my flock, but I didn't get production breeds, just ones for laying certain colors of eggs. I do plan on culling some out of my flock at some point since they were not the breed advertised, but they lay decent eggs so I'm not in a big hurry to do it. Once I get my "perfect" flock, I won't care if they're laying a lot of eggs or not.

Same