If you are into the idea of rescuing hens, you could get spent hens from a local egg farm. The hens will lay slightly less, but still a lot. Just a thought.
Good Luck!
'My Pet Chickens," will allow you to buy as few as three chicks at a time if they are flying to a major city - Chicago would certainly qualify. You can pay extra for "sexed 'chicks so you don't end up with all boys.