[mountn man]

I keep laying hens.

You just bypass the egg, and go straight to the hen?

[blackdog]

Unfortunately no matter how I do the math, I cannot produce eggs for less than store bought. We use Rhode Island Reds. We use them two seasons for laying, then allow a few to sit, then kill and dress/freeze those hens for eating after they raise their chicks. We've found that Reds are the best mothers. We let them free range during seasons with enough food availability supplemented with laying ration.

Winter heat lamps, water considerations(heat tapes and submersed heater), lighting, louse control, building maint, and replacement costs(raising chicks to adult layers), and laying ration all cost too much. But the eggs taste the best and we prefer them over store bought.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Laying Hens versus Meat Hens, SILLY! :)