If you have some land or even a backyard and dream of dabbling in farming, an easy first step is to try raising chickens. Chickens offer an ideal way for you to learn the ropes of basic livestock care without it becoming overwhelming. Make sure you ask yourself, "How many chickens do I need?" It's a great question, and the answer will partly depend on your plans and purpose for your chickens.
Let's say you're trying to supply all of your egg needs with your own chickens—a fun and useful goal. The first step is to tally up the eggs you use in an average week (make sure you consider your lifestyle):
- Are you and your family heavy egg eaters? For example, just two eggs for breakfast, for three or four people, twice a week, is more than a dozen eggs a week.
- Baking needs—how often do you bake, and how many eggs might you use weekly?
- Excess—would you like to have plenty of eggs to share with friends and family?
Next, multiply the target number of eggs perweekby 52 to find youreggs peryear. We'll need that number in a minute.
Once you've determined how many eggs you need per year, you can narrow down how many chickens you need.
How many eggs do chickens lay in a day?
Many chickens begin laying a few eggs at about 18 weeks of age, and become more prolific until they reach full egg production at about 25 weeks old. At this point, a healthy young hen of a "layer" breed might produce almost an egg a day. Humans have noticed and benefited from the chicken egg for thousands of years.1
But even the most prolific laying breeds won't produce 365 eggs a year, and there a couple of reasons for this. For one, a hen's reproductive cycle is about 24 to 26 hours long. So she lays an egg later and later each day until her time for laying eggs drifts too close to evening. Because light also plays a role in egg production, the hen will then hold off laying an egg until the next day (or two), ending the possibility of an egg every day.
Additionally, there are seasonal changes in a hen's egg production that occur due to varying light levels during the shortening and lengthening ofdays.2Egg production is usually higher in the summer, then begins to slow down towards fall andinto winter. Some hens may stop producing eggs for about two to three months at this time, putting their energy instead into molting and growing new feathers.Wintermight be an excellent time to try aheated pad for your chickens.
Let's do a little math.
You might expect something in the range of 200 to 250 eggs per year from a "layer" chicken breed (e.g., White Leghorn, Rhode Island Red, Australorp, Plymouth BarredRock, etc.).3From this range, you can figure out how many eggs flocks of different sizes might produce:
- 4 hensx 200 eggs per year = 800 eggs per year, or15+ eggs per week.
- 6 hensx 200 eggs per year = 1,200 eggs per year, or23+ eggs per week.
- 8 hensx 200 eggs per year = 1,600 eggs per year, or30+ eggs per week.
The number of eggs may decrease over time.
Remember that as your hens age, they will begin laying fewer eggs per year, and this may affect how many chickens you keep in your flock. By the time a hen is a few years old, she may produce only two-thirds of the eggs she did in her first year. By age five, her production could drop to 50 percent. You might need to add younger birds into the mix to compensate. And remember, eggs are approximately 74 percent water, sokeep those hens hydrated!
Is it okay to have just one chicken?
A single "pet" chicken isn't a wise plan. Chickens are social creatures; they don't call it a "flock" for nothing. They depend on the presence of other chickens for their physiologicalwell-being.4Even two chickens might not be enough since flocks have a fairly elaborate hierarchy or "pecking order." You'll probably want a minimum of four chickens.
Good luck!
There's something special about keeping a small flock of chickens and using your own home-grown eggs. Enjoy the moment and don't take it for granted.
- "Eggcyclopedia." The Incredible Egg,https://www.incredibleegg.org/eggcyclopedia/h/history/
- Jacob, Dr. Jacquie. "Raising Chickens for Egg Production." The Poultry Extension.https://poultry.extension.org/articles/poultry-management/raising-chickens-for-egg-production/
- Munniksma, Lisa. "The Best Chicken Breeds for Laying Farm-Fresh Eggs." Hobby Farms, 2015,https://www.hobbyfarms.com/best-egg-laying-chickens/
- Anger, Rachel Hurd. "Can Chickens Get Lonely?" Hobby Farms, 2015,https://www.hobbyfarms.com/can-chickens-get-lonely/
FAQs
Chickens are sociable creatures, so plan to keep three to six birds. With this amount, you'll always have a steady supply of eggs, since an adult hen lays about two eggs every three days, on average.
How many chickens should a beginner start with? ›
For beginner Chicken owners four or five hens would be the perfect number of hens. This will provide you with a lucrative number of eggs for an average family, allow you time to learn the ropes of poultry husbandry and give your chickens the socialisation they require to thrive.
How many chickens do I need for a dozen eggs a week? ›
If you had 2 Leghorn chickens, you would likely get a dozen eggs a week from them. But if you want a prettier egg basket and a flock of more colorful, unique breeds of hens then you will probably need three hens to get a dozen eggs per week.
What is the minimum amount of chickens you should keep? ›
Chickens are extremely flock-oriented, so a good starter flock size is no fewer than three chickens. You should collect about a dozen eggs from three laying hens. A flock of five or six hens is a good choice for slightly larger families.
How do I calculate how many chickens I need? ›
Estimating the number of chickens needed
3.4 eggs per day divided by 0.5 eggs per chicken = 3.4 / 0.5 = 6.8, or approximately 7. So we would need about 7 hens to produce 24 eggs a week somewhat reliably. Being that this is a somewhat conservative estimate, most of the time, we'll be getting more than 24 eggs a week.
Is it cheaper to raise chickens or buy eggs? ›
Additionally, if you have a large family or use a lot of eggs in your cooking, then the cost savings may be more significant. However, if you're simply looking to save money on eggs, then it's likely that buying eggs from the store will be more cost-effective in the long run.
What should a first time chicken owner know? ›
Necessities. In addition to a safe coop and space to roam, chickens need feed, water, and a source of calcium. We use Scratch and Peck feed for our chicks, pullets, and hens. Chickens have different nutrient needs depending on their age, so make sure you purchase the appropriate feed.
Are chickens cheap to keep? ›
The moral of the story is that how much it costs to raise chickens depends on many factors, but you could easily raise a flock of 3-5 chickens in your backyard for less than $500/year, with less than $1500 of start-up expenses, and the cost of raising chickens could pay off as early as year 2.
Do I need a rooster for my chickens? ›
The truth is that hens will lay eggs with or without a rooster. Without a rooster, your hens' eggs are infertile, so won't develop into chicks. If you do have a rooster, eggs need to be collected daily and kept in a cool place before being used so that they won't develop into chicks.
How often should I clean my chicken coop? ›
Once a week, scoop up all the droppings and lay down a new fresh bedding inside the coop. 1-2x a year, conduct a deep clean of the coop to ensure it's still a happy and healthy place for your chickens.
ISA Browns are docile, friendly, and low maintenance and can lay up to 350 large brown eggs a year! Unfortunately, this high egg production also leads to a shortened life span for these wonderful birds, but still we think they are a fun addition to the backyard flock.
How long do fresh eggs last? ›
Information. Eggs may be refrigerated three to five weeks from the day they are placed in the refrigerator. The "Sell-By" date will usually expire during that length of time, but the eggs will be perfectly safe to use. Always purchase eggs before the "Sell-By" or EXP (expiration) date on the carton.
How many chickens fit in a 4x8 coop? ›
4x8 Dutch Coop
Perfect for the backyard chicken hobbyist, this 4×8 Dutch style chicken coop houses 15-20 chickens.
Is it better to have 1 or 2 chickens? ›
Chickens need to be kept with others. If you can only keep one chicken, you should not get chickens at all. Instead, wait to get chickens until you can keep at least 2 chickens or, even better, 3. Even if you already have a flock, it is best to buy at least 2 chickens at a time if you can.
What are the best chickens for beginners? ›
Plymouth Rock chickens are the best starter chicken breeds for beginners. They're friendly, hardy, and make great egg layers. Plymouth Rocks are also relatively easy to find - you can purchase them from many hatcheries and feed stores.
How many chickens do you need to start laying eggs? ›
Planning for Egg Production Per Week
If you wanted to get about a dozen eggs per week, you would need between 3 to 5 laying hens. For two dozen eggs a week, you would need to double those numbers for a flock size of between 6 to 10 laying hens.
How many chickens do I need for a 2 person household? ›
They say if you get a heritage breed, get 2 chickens per person in your family. This accounts for most heritage breeds laying 3-4 eggs a week(basically every other day).
