If you are looking to add some flair to your flock, several ornamental and exotic breeds offer striking aesthetics while still being accessible through major hatcheries. Silkies are perhaps the most recognizable, famous for their fur like plumage, black skin, and five toes; they are modest layers of about 100 small, cream colored eggs per year. For a touch of elegance, the Silver Laced Polish features a dramatic crest of feathers and a V-shaped comb. These “fancy-feathered” birds produce approximately 150 medium sized white eggs annually, though their crests may require occasional trimming to help them see. The Egyptian Fayoumi is an ancient, active breed known for its upright tail and silver and black penciled patterns. They are exceptionally hardy and provide roughly 150 small, off-white or tinted eggs each year. If you prefer a breed with a more “prehistoric” look, the Modern Game bird stands tall on long, elegant legs with tight, sleek feathers. While primarily kept for exhibition rather than utility, they lay about 50 to 80 small, tinted eggs per season. For those who appreciate unique feather structures, the Frizzle has feathers that curl outward rather than laying flat, giving them a windswept appearance. Depending on the base breed, they typically lay 120 to 180 medium sized eggs in shades of light brown or white. Finally, the Phoenix chicken is a beautiful Japanese ornamental breed famous for its exceptionally long tail feathers. They are graceful birds that produce roughly 100 small, cream or tinted eggs per year.
A young pullet’s egg size & weird shape in comparison to an adult hen
It’s perfectly normal, and quite common, for a young pullet (under a year) to lay small or weird shaped eggs. At this age, she is just beginning her laying journey, and these small, (sometimes) yolkless first attempts are known as “fairy eggs.” This happens primarily because her reproductive tract is a complex assembly line that hasn’t been finely tuned yet. While your pullet may look like an adult, her oviduct is still physically maturing. As she develops over the next several weeks, her body will become more efficient at processing bigger eggs. Generally, tiny eggs are no cause for concern as long as your pullet is bright, alert, and eating normally. You should see a noticeable increase in egg size in due time. Keep in mind that most pullets don’t reach their maximum egg size until after their first adult molt. To support her as her production ramps up, make sure she has access to a high quality layer feed and a separate dish of oyster shell for calcium.
Let’s talk about the reality of keeping backyard chickens, because I think many people don’t fully realize what they’re getting into. First of all, while fresh eggs are certainly nice to have, it’s important to understand they will cost you far more than store bought eggs. Feed isn’t cheap, and the supplies needed to keep your flock healthy are ongoing expenses. No matter how budget friendly your plans or set-up ideas may be. Below is a realistic guideline of what you can expect to pay for your initial backyard set-up for 6 hens and the ongoing costs.
Coop & Run: DYI Bare-bones: $800–$1,200 Average, solid setup: $1,200–$1,800 Prebuilt / higher quality: $1,800–$2,500+ What Size Coop? How Much Space Your Chickens Will Need Ongoing Costs: Feed: $15–$30/month Bedding , upkeep, supplements / treats : $10–$35/month Rough yearly cost for 6 hens: $500–$1,000
Those are the basic facts, and maybe you’ve already considered them, but I know what you’re thinking. I can do it cheaper! Could you? Yes. Will you wish down the road you hadn’t cut corners? Yes. So let’s get into what you may have overlooked, the things nobody wants to talk about. If you’re going to keep chickens, this is the part you need to be clear-eyed about. Things will go wrong at some point. Fact: There will be unexpected health issues, injuries, and problems when keeping chickens. You can expect health problems to occur, most common are egg related issues, digestive problems, respiratory illness, and external parasites. You will see bullying that can cause injuries, which are disturbing to witness. Therefore, you should be prepared to have a dedicated space to isolate a sick or injured bird, which is another expense.
Let’s Do Egg Math
Farm EggsStore Eggs
In 2026, eggs at a typical U.S. grocery store tends to fall roughly in the range of about $1.50 – $3.50 per dozen for conventionally raised hens. So if you buy 2 dozen conventional eggs per week, you’d spend roughly $156–$312 per year. Cage‑free, organic, or free‑range eggs at about $4–$6+ per dozen, buying 2 dozen a week would cost roughly $416–$624+ per year. Fact: 6 hens will not provide 2 dozen eggs in a week, 18 would be more realistic. Also, take into consideration, hens lay much less, if at all during the winter months. And if you have broody1 breeds, they might not lay for months at at time.
Costs of Purchasing Your Flock Approximate Price Breakdown for Buying Chickens in the U.S.
Let’s start with 6 chickens, which is a good number for a family of 4, the cost varies depending on their age. Baby chicks, which are day old or a few weeks old, typically cost around $3–$10 each for common laying breeds, so you’re looking at roughly $18–$60for six. *Chicks are the cheapest upfront, but they require extra care, including a brooder, heat, and starter feed. Raising Baby Chicks, Everything You Need to Know Pullets, which are young hens nearing laying age, usually run about $15–$30 each, bringing the total for six to around $90–$180. * Pullets are popular because they start laying soon after arrival, offering a balance between cost and convenience. Adult laying hens, already producing eggs, cost the most upfront, typically $20–$50 per bird, so six would set you back about $120–$300. * While pricier, adult hens give you fresh eggs immediately without the wait. Prices can fluctuate based on breed, and where you buy them, with specialty or rare breeds often costing significantly more.
🐀What You Don’t Want to Hear….
Chickens will undoubtedly attract predators. If your coop isn’t properly secured, the consequences can be devastating. This is not an area to cut corners, no matter where you live. Whether you’re in the country, the city, or the suburbs, your flock is at risk without proper protection. What kind of predators? Most common are coyotes, racoons, fox, hawks, owls, weasels, mink, opossums, and sometimes dogs. Now let’s talk about rodents. Yes, chickens attract rats and mice, something your neighbors won’t be to keen on. While you can take steps to minimize their presence, it’s unlikely you’ll eliminate them entirely. And if rodents show up, snakes won’t be far behind. They’re drawn in by an easy food source, feeding on mice, rats, and even eggs.
Why We Do It
Knowing all the challenges, people still choose to raise chickens because the rewards can make it worth it. Fresh eggs are a big reason, they often taste better, and you know exactly where they come from. Chickens teach responsibility, commitment, patience, and problem solving. There’s also a sense of pride that comes from raising a healthy flock and collecting eggs you helped produce. In the end, people don’t raise chickens because it’s easy or cheap, they do it because it’s rewarding and interesting. So there you have it, the honest scoop on raising chickens. Now it’s up to you to decide if it’s right for you.
the term “broody” refers to a hen that has the strong instinct to sit on eggs and hatch them, rather than just lay eggs. A broody hen usually stops laying until the broodiness passes or the eggs hatch. ↩︎
If you are looking to add some flair to your flock, several ornamental and exotic breeds offer striking aesthetics while still being accessible through major hatcheries. Silkies are perhaps the most recognizable, famous for their fur like plumage, black skin, and five toes; they are modest layers of about 100 small, cream colored eggs per year. For a touch of elegance, the Silver Laced Polish features a dramatic crest of feathers and a V-shaped comb. These “fancy-feathered” birds produce approximately 150 medium sized white eggs annually, though their crests may require occasional trimming to help them see.
TBN Ranch Chicken Keeping Resources 