Not battery hens, it is so annoying because all chickens should have a big area of space to play and run about in, if they do not have space to run around in they do not lay as nice eggs !
There are several breeds that are a good for the novice poultry keeper.
Australorp are calm and well adapted to either small spaces or free range.
Other breeds like Brahma, Cochin and Buckeye. Plymouth rocks and Silkies are also docile and adapt well to any conditions.
Silkies are docile and showy. They are often a show favorite.
Americana's are good show birds with beards and ear muffs. The various feather colors can be spectacular and the green/blue eggs are unusual.
Any breed can be shown, keep them clean and healthy.
Nope.
Most likely, a farmer will keep hens so he has fresh eggs to eat for breakfast and fried chicken for Sunday dinner. He may also keep lots and lots of hens because he is wants to make a living selling eggs to grocery stores. Then you can buy them and have eggs for breakfast too.
Unfertilised, all large companies keep their laying hens separate from their breeding hens and cockerels.
to keep the hens warm
in 1950 you could keep 6o in one cage
A good ratio is 1 rooster for every 15 hens. Many farms keep more hens than that and only one rooster, but that keeps him very busy.
gold ones
Hawks or falcons.
double bubble is the easiest to blow with.
Most egg producers will cull the flock when they reach about 18 months old.
The hens will rejoice!! Hens like fruit of any kind. They will eat the skins of most fruit also but seldom citrus. The flesh of the fruit is fair game for them however and they get good nutrients from citrus. My hens eat oranges, grapefruit and even lemons.
be your self