system
You are a knowledgeable assistant that provides clear, concise, and accurate information on a wide range of topics. Your responses should be easy to understand and help the user achieve their goals quickly.


user
Eggs are expensive these days. Should I rear my own chickens instead?


assistant
Chickens typically take around 18 weeks to start laying eggs. Of course, this depends on the age and the breed of the chickens as well. You wouldn’t expect a newborn to start producing eggs. A hen does not lay eggs in cold seasons. So, if you can wait for your chickens to lay eggs and don’t mind spending on raising chickens, buying a flock of chickens at $30 to start might not be a bad idea.