I really think if you like or use eggs regularly it is wonderful to have your own hens. We have six laying hens that live in a cute little henhouse/coop in our backyard. That means fresh eggs everyday! Yum! I look at it like growing your own veggies. I feel so good that our hens are healthy and happy. It is a fact that home raised eggs are more healthy too.
Cost wise I think it's about equal to buying them in the store. A bag of feed is about $14 and lasts about 5 weeks. A bag of 'scratch' (chicken candy) is about $12 and lasts 8 weeks. During warm weather they each lay one egg per day, so 3.5 dozen per week. Winter they lay about every other day, so 1 to 1.25 dozen per week. We give family and friends lots of eggs in the summer!
Plus, chickens do funny things. They are very entertaining!
(Not a great picture, but all I had on my computer of the girls for now.)
Fresh Eggs
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Our little pet liked getting picked up and petted even. I took her to YD's class to share once too. Good times.....
June 9th, 2010 at 06:34 pm 1276104846
We also turn them loose on our yard and they get bugs around and under the house.
All the hens are friendly, two are more calm than the rest. My daughter can pick all of them up and pet them.