Chickens are the easiest animals on a farm. Minimal care, maximum return.
Breeds
Rhode Island Red: 250-300 eggs/year, hardy, cold-resistant. Plymouth Rock: 200 eggs + good meat. Leghorn: record-holder 300+ eggs, but nervous and thin. Amish prefer Rhode Island — reliable as a tractor.
Coop
2-3 sq ft per chicken. Roosts 60-90 cm high. Nesting boxes: 1 per 4-5 hens, 30×30×30 cm, with straw. Ventilation mandatory (ammonia from droppings). Door for ranging.
Feeding
Grain (corn, wheat, oats) + kitchen scraps + free range (bugs, worms, grass). Oyster shell or crushed eggshell — calcium for strong shells. Clean water always.
Winter
Lay less (short days). Trick: kerosene lamp in coop — extends 'day' to 14 hours, hens keep laying. Not electric light — a lamp.
Economics
20 hens: $40-60 purchase + $200-300/year feed = 4,000-5,000 eggs/year. Cost per egg: $0.05-0.07. Store: $0.25-0.40. Savings $800-1,500/year + organic eggs.