[yorkshirerose]

Im going into chooks - in the garden so not in a big way. Would laike layers to provide me for our own egg needs.
I often buy anything from 10 - 24 eggs per week so how many chooks would I need?
Not rushing into buying em as got to decide where to put the new home and run yet.
We have dogs which are kenneled and waiting for the builders to come to put another cement pad down for kennels opposite the ones we already have and then some dog friendly covering in between the two lots of kennels. Dont know if the whole of the back garden is going to be the same as a drive is being put in too :!:

[deneview]

a hybrid chicken would probably lay 5 eggs a week maximum but they will go off lay during the moult so production would fall, and you would need to replace them at 18m-2yr. to get 10 eggs a week- might need 3-4,
to get 2 dozen reliably 10 hens?
 
i hardly eat eggs and tend to sell the excess to pay for feed.

perhaps work out how much space you have, and wether you could sell the excess then decide on the number to get.

[richyrich7]

I agree with deneview my hybrids have consistently laid eggs at the rate of 1 per bird per day, but now they are older (2nd spring) they have all but stopped and I can't seem to get them going again. So they might be put out to grass and new ones bought in.
I visited someone a few days ago and they didnt have a very high opinion of hybrids due to them being a bit "sensitive"? but as they used to keep 500, I assume they know more about it than I will ever do.
Good luck with your choice of hens, you could have a mixture of breeds for variety.

[alan42]

richy what do you meen when you say put out to grass?
alan

[deneview]

I visited someone a few days ago and they didnt have a very high opinion of hybrids due to them being a bit "sensitive"? for variety.

yes i agree, the hybrid goldline birds ive had have been great layers for first yr but then production drops off, also they seem a bit delicate, i bought some and gave half to relatives down in essex and they have done well, plump and fit, but up in northumberland seem scrawny and feeble, same food and in fresh pasture, reasonable shelter in trees etc, i think i will get a variety of breeds next

[yorkshirerose]

Thanks for that - yes I think I shall try a variety and see how they do.

[Foxy]

Hi - you might want to think about a laying "pure breed" hen ie welsummer/white sussex/marans/leghorns. Hybrids are designed to lay like mad the first year -for commercial reasons and them this can reduce dramatically the next season. Pure breds won't lay so many eggs but will lay for a good 5 years or more -I guess it a question of personal choice though. Also some breds are quite hardy and well suited to free range conditions whereas some are quite happy with a small run. I have quite a mixture now and practice makes purfect!!