Store bought eggs have runny whites. The yokes often break when they are cracked open. I have to open the carton to check for broken eggs. Also the eggs are crack very easily when you get ready to cook them. I think there is not enough calcium in the chickens feed.

I believe the poor quality comes from old hens and poor feed.

Garryowen

Just out of curiosity, I wonder if anybody has ever done a comparison of the nutritional value of caged hens vs. free range hens.

Probably too many variables to figure in.

No one here is malnourished, but I can assure you, serve sublime eggs or chicken, it will be noticed at the table. The same kids love beaver stew, eat venison sausage, and fillet the fish we catch and eat. As soon as you mass produce nature's bounty, the quality "CAN" be diminished.

I prefer to pick them fresh from the chicken trees.

It's more economical that trapping. I'm a trapper. I spend $100 to make $50.

More to chickens than eggs. You'll never have a tick in your yard with chickens around.

If I had the room, I'd have 100 hens or more. I made the mistake in taking a few dozen eggs to the farmers market last year. I charged far more than the store charged (when they were cheap). They sold out within 10 minutes. Bet I could sell 30 dozen in a few hours, no problem.

But like trapping, if you're just in it for the money, don't waste your time.

Same thing goes for beekeeping. I spent 5 k before selling any honey. Now, like the eggs, I can't keep up.

its just like trapping if their worth 10 dollars a dozen and drop to 50 cents there will still be people sell them seen it at local livestock auction that sells eggs try and catch a free range chicken thats never been handled then take a chicken out of a cage thats been in tt for a year set it on the ground see if you can catch it tell me which is the healthest and which you think will live the longest

Like I said, "most people", not everyone can run chickens like most of us, they get a few chickens and it will never be a break even deal.... even at 8 bucks a doz, its cheaper for them to just buy them.
If you like them around, like pets thats a whole different thing and that's fine, but those few eggs ain't "free"

Do growers still offer oyster shells to hens for stronger egg shells? We did back in the day.

Cage chickens dont live long anyway. Either butchered at a few weeks old or butchered when egg production drops even a little. Commercial chicken barns use computers to keep track of individual weight gain per pound of feed as well as number of eggs. there is a lot of science put into meat and egg production. Thinner shells are the result of testing to determine the maximum number of eggs for the least amount of feed. Eggs for human consumption dont need thick shells. They are never going to be sat on by a hen. So no need for extra mineral. Chicken eggs from birds out eating bugs weeds and who knows what all do have a better flavor IMO. Fried up I prefer cage raised meat birds. I like the flavor as well as the tenderness. Laying hens around here get cooked in the crockpot or pressure cooker.

If you are thinking about getting into commercial egg laying that is a whole different idea. Equipment and buildings are depreciated. For lights you'll have to figure a unit cost per eggs. How many hens to a light. Labor it will be the same thing etc.

But, you don't need a lot of expensive equipment. A pan for water and one for feed is all you need. Some place that critters can't get into so they can roost at night. Some feed and your in business.

Garryowen

I may get a few hens and a roo just for eggs and entertainment. I am looking at either Barred rocks or Delaware's. Anyone have any experience with the Delaware's?

I had Barred rocks for awhile, they were just ok, the White rocks I had were very productive and rarely got broody, no experience with Delawares, though read good things about them.
Out of all the breeds I had, the white rocks were tops.