Having owned a small flock for two years now?

The cost of feed is non-trivial, costs to create a safe coop and enclosure pen is… fairly high especially since you’ll want eight foot tall fencing. Sure yo ucould free range, but then you’re just BEGGING for your flock to get picked off.

And production is variable. Even when you don’t want eegs. Boom. Eggs. they don’t lay o ncommand. And can and will destroy their own eggs.