Just get you 6 laying hens and you'll have more eggs than a family of five can eat. That's ½ dozen eggs a day, but trust me they add up fast. If you put a light on the hens they'll lay twice every 24 hours. It burns them out faster but if you plan right you can have the next group of hens ready to start laying. Once the old girls lay out you have 6 broiling hens ready for the pot or freezer. I keep a dozen hens laying and I give away eggs to the point of requiring people to supply their own cartons. If you don't want to get that involved there are small businesses, at least where I live, that rent laying hens. They bring out the portable coop, supply the hens and sell you the scratch feed and laying mash. You don't need a farm or acreage, a small back yard is enough space.
Just get you 6 laying hens and you'll have more eggs than a family of five can eat. That's ½ dozen eggs a day, but trust me they add up fast. If you put a light on the hens they'll lay twice every 24 hours. It burns them out faster but if you plan right you can have the next group of hens ready to start laying. Once the old girls lay out you have 6 broiling hens ready for the pot or freezer. I keep a dozen hens laying and I give away eggs to the point of requiring people to supply their own cartons. If you don't want to get that involved there are small businesses, at least where I live, that rent laying hens. They bring out the portable coop, supply the hens and sell you the scratch feed and laying mash. You don't need a farm or acreage, a small back yard is enough space.