It's hard to know how to answer this. The eggs are important, that's why I have them, but I don't buy production breeds unless that's what there is to buy and I don't mind if they don't lay. They are pets and I sometimes feel like I'm running a retirement home for elderly hens, but I do talk to them a lot about how their job is to lay eggs! I would rather they produce eggs than me having to buy eggs while they live the life of Riley
So, yes, very important but also not important at all. It's like kids, I got to work with what I have!
