Ok, do you need a rooster to get a hen to lay eggs?   
 Nope.  You need a rooster to have baby chicks but the hen will lay eggs with no rooster in sight!

How often do hens lay eggs?
  Approximately every 25 hours.  After they lay the egg, the process starts again about a half hour later.

How many chickens do I need for a family of 4?
You can figure on one chicken for every person.

What is the best environment for laying?
They like about 14 hours of daylight (or artificial light) and 45-80 degrees.

What's the difference between a store bought egg and a fresh egg?
The fresh egg will have a firm yolk with a cloudy egg white.

What kind of chickens are the best layers?

They all are. Everyone seems to have their own favorite breed that they are sure are the best layers. The only way to really find out is to get some chickens and see who lays the most!

How much space do they need? As much room as you want to give them. Ok, they need some space to play and sleep and eat.

Can I have chickens in the city where I live?

You will have to check with your local government. In Seattle, chickens come under the pet laws. You can only have 3 pets in the family. Most often neighbors won't complain if you have more, but don't break the law because of me! Roosters may present a problem because of their noise. They really start crowing before sunrise and continue all day long. The hens will also make some noise when laying their eggs. One of the best remedies is to give all of the neighbors fresh eggs!

What do they need in the coop?

The coop can be as basic or as fancy as you want. All they need is protection from wind, rain, sun and critters like raccoons or coyotes. The need a place to perch and nesting boxes. They need a food and water container. They need you to watch them!