There must be a rooster in the coop or the eggs won't hatch. But I''m sure you know that.
I've had chickens a couple times but I run around the country and it's a worry when I'm gone for awhile. Mine always free range as I refuse to keep them cooped up.. Just ain't right in my mind. I love the way they scratch the ground and look around nonchalantly, then back up real quick to look for something to eat where they just scratched. Daggum hawks and falcons are what gets me. The last ones we had were named and it was very bothersome when a falcon woulld kill one. But I left that gal so she gave the hens to her daughterd. Problem solved. I probly won't own chickens again until I'm too old to travel. We buy homegrown eggs at a local NAPA for $4 bux a dozen. Plus when you have chickens you have to hose the poop off the back deck twice a day.

We had 50 hens this summer but we sold them a few weeks ago. We have already put in an order to Murray McMurray for 60 more hens.

50 hens.........1000 dollars?

I didn't grab eggs off the counter to bring down with me for work this week. Got in a hurry and forgot. So I stopped at the store and the Walmart in Newburg IN has free ranged eggs. and they were under $6 a dozed only 30c more than the cheapest eggs this week.

I'm here to tell you the are incredible eggs. very tick shells and amazing dark orange yokes every bit as good as my back yard flock lays. I was very surprised. That said they still are not as fresh but if I didn't have chicken or a free range local flock to buy from those would be the only thing I would buy.