Too many eggs?

[Tikkijane]

Looking at 6 chickens; combo of ameraucanas, buff orpingtons, maybe some barred rocks- dh thinks we're going to get way too many eggs. If I get 6 chicks, two of each, how many eggs a day realistically and consistently do y'all think I'll get?

TIA!

Tikki

 

[Saroco]

From my girls,I get an egg a day per hen... It could be different with different breeds, though.

P.S you could always sell eggs..... I bet I have had 20 people ask to buy eggs. Everybody loves farm-fresh eggs!

 

[Fred's Hens]

The average for standard bred, large fowl is around 260 eggs their pullet year. (4-6 per week) You can do the math, but it will vary during the year. In spring, they'll all likely lay, almost everyday. In the dark days of winter? Two or three a day will and they'll "take turns." When they molt, they won't lay at all, to speak of. After year two, their output will drop by 10-20% per year.

IOW, there is no precise number, but general guidelines of what you could expect.

 

[Tikkijane]

Quote:
I am sorely tempted! I think I could prolly send them to work with dh and they would be gone, but is he willing to be an egg courier?

 

[maizey]

getting an egg a day from my three as well, however, as they age, production will probably go down, and production is lower in the winter. All things considered, we as a family of 3 have what might be considered too many eggs at the moment. I have about 30 in the fridge right now. However, I can easily part with a dozen for my mom and another dozen for friend. We have plenty, and are able to give some away. The dog even gets 2-3 per week. I would probably be going through more of them if I were baking, but since we are dieting, Im not

I think one hen per person in the family is a decent rule of thumb to go by.

 

[Tikkijane]

Fred's Hens :

The average for standard bred, large fowl is around 260 eggs their pullet year. (4-6 per week) You can do the math, but it will vary during the year. In spring, they'll all likely lay, almost everyday. In the dark days of winter? Two or three a day will and they'll "take turns." When they molt, they won't lay at all, to speak of. After year two, their output will drop by 10-20% per year.

IOW, there is no precise number, but general guidelines of what you could expect.

Thanks! Leaning more towards the 6, and hoping cost out = or otherwise balances out eggs in!

 

[woodmort]

For the first laying year you'll get 4 -6 a day and have way too many. But as soon as you get used to it and have friends/family relying on the supply, the chickens will moult and not lay any so you'll be buying eggs. Then they will go back into production and you'll get 3 or so a day--they'll be bigger--which will be about right.

 

[Tikkijane]

Quote:
LOL! I think I am going for the 6- hope they won't make too much noise!

 

[alhanse77]

We have four hens of the same varieties you are looking at. Right now, at about peak laying season and peak laying age (1 yo), we are getting about 20 eggs per week. The bulk of those come from three hens as one only lays 2-3 eggs per week. The rest lay 6-7 eggs per week. You can never have too many eggs. People love to receive a small basket of eggs as a gift!

 

[BrewedInNh]

Quote:
We have 6 hens, they're all 10 months old now. The leghons were first to lay at 5 months, the others joined in at around 6 months old. Since then we've been averaging 30 eggs per week, even through the winter. We did add lighting to keep it at 12+ hours per day.

Productivity varies from breed to breed. Our leghorns lay 9 out of 10 days, and one of our production reds lays 8 out of 10 days. The others are more like 6 out of 10 days.

We give the extra eggs to family and friends, although we could sell them if we chose.