re: Teach me about chickens - laying hens

Rhode Island Reds are probably the easiest to keep and cheapest to buy. Dominiques, barred rocks and buff orpingtons are good also. Feed them corn and laying pellets. With those breeds you can get about 75% lay, so 4 chickens and you'll average 3 eggs a day. If you are worried about noise don't get a rooster, the hens will probably be a little happier not getting raped several times a day. Hens are pretty quiet. We turn ours out during the day and put them up at night, otherwise you're opening up the varmit buffet. The eggs will be the best you've ever eaten.

6 months and they should be laying good. You'll get 4-5 years of eggs, although some will go longer. I had some fighting hens that laid for 15 years.