Hatching out chicks isn't just a fun and educational activity that results in the production of ridiculously cute baby chicks - it is also a cheap way to replenish your flock of layers and produce a crop of roosters for meat. The average laying hen costs about $2.50 from a hatchery. That may not seem like much, but when you're talking about a flock of 30-50 hens (or more) it amounts to some significant money. It may take a hen many months to earn back that $2.50 by laying eggs, because while she may earn $3-4/dozen of her eggs, she eats a lot of costly feed in that time. A rooster can easily cost $5-6 in feed to reach butchering weight, so shaving off a few bucks from the very start helps.
It isn't just about money, though. Hatching eggs also gives the small chicken farmer the ability to control the genetics of his or her flock. By choosing a strong and healthy rooster with the traits desired, and collected eggs for hatching from only your best hens will result in a healthier and more productive flock in the future. Then there's that other benefit: having a whole bunch of peeping peeps.
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