Which Chickens Lay Large Brown Eggs that is enough to Feed my Family?

[Jr005]

Hello I want to buy my first chickens unfortunately due to living to a major road I might not be able to let them be free range..
I want chickens that lays large or descent size brown eggs and that are not too loud for my neighbors...

I eat about 3-4 eggs per day and my wife and daughter will eat about 2 or 3 per day..

So how many chickens should i buy and which breed do you recommend and do you recommence buying from craigslist?

http://dallas.craigslist.org/search/sss?sort=rel&query=chicks


now that i have a pool I will be putting them behind the white fence on the left side..

 

[IAMADOL]

I would buy 10-12 but keep in mind that chickens are photo sensitive and won't lay as many eggs in the darker months as the lighter ones. If you will be keeping them in a run make sure you have ten square feet per chicken and that the coop is a bit luxurious (2 square feet per bird) as well. This is my first year (since I was a child/teen) having chickens. Just got my first egg this week. Having a ton of fun As far as breeds go...I have Buff Orpington, Australorps, Rhode Island Reds, Americauna, Golden Sexlinks, Barred Rock and Wyandottes. These are all great egg layer which was my main purpose

 

[IAMADOL]

I forgot to say that before I got the birds I went to my neighbors and asked their approval and bribed with future eggs

 

[junebuggena]

Keep in mind that most brown egg layers are larger breeds and need at least 5 sq ft of coop space and 12sq ft of run space per bird. It takes a chicken anywhere from 22 to 28 hours to produce one egg. How quickly a hen will make an egg is not breed related, but more of an individual thing. Sexlinks are the most prolific layers producing about 300 eggs a year, but they only produce for 2 and half to 3 years. Also, pullets lay small eggs that gradually get bigger. You won't be getting normal store sized eggs for the first few months of laying. My Australorps did produce fair sized eggs right away, but they only lay every other day or so. My Barred Rock girls lay almost everyday, and they are really fun to have around.

 

[chiques chicks]

IIf your goal is eggs, I would recommend one of the egg laying hybrids. The names vary by hatchery.

I would also recommend about 4sq. Ft. Of coop space per bird, 10sq ft of run each.

Auxiliary light can help keep production higher in the winter months.

12- 14 birds should give you enough eggs from these breeds for your family and bribes.

During periods of higher production, eggs can be frozen to get you through periods of lower production.

Craigslist is like anything else, some good, some bad. I would get chicks from a hatcher in your situation.

 

[lesliecrum]

This is my first time having chickens so I am trying to figure all this stuff out. We got our chickens mid March and we still don't have any eggs. How long does it take for a chicken to lay? We have Road Island Reds and Barred Rock hens.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

x2 on the hybrid idea.
If you just want eggs then these are the chickens for you.

If your interested in keep a pure bred bird and still want many many eggs then try Leghorns. However, all Leghorns lay big WHITE eggs, but there is no nutritional different between white and brown eggs. Some people think there is.

 

[junebuggena]

Most breeds start laying somewhere between 20 to 25 weeks old. Some of my barred Rocks started at 19 weeks, and they were all laying by 21 weeks.

This is my first time having chickens so I am trying to figure all this stuff out. We got our chickens mid March and we still don't have any eggs. How long does it take for a chicken to lay? We have Road Island Reds and Barred Rock hens.

 

[lesliecrum]

thanks for the info. I will keep my fingers crossed that they lay soon.