They are often available in the fall, after people have raised too many chicks for their needs. However, it is hard to distinguish hens that are near the end of their egg-laying years (over 2 years old) from those who are young with many egg-laying years ahead of them, so vet your farm or seller well. Hatching eggs are available through purchase by mail order and in stores. While they may be cheaper than chicks, they may not have the sex determined and some eggs do not hatch. A brooder is a heated nesting place that will keep chicks warm. They cannot regulate their body temperature for the first few weeks of life.  Find a thick cardboard or plastic box. It should be smaller when the chicks are small, and then you should replace it incrementally as they grow. Place the box in an area of your house that has a steady temperature. Pour 1 inch (2.5 cm) of pine shavings into the bottom of the box. Place a heat lamp on the side of the box. Use a thermometer to keep the temperature at a steady 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius).  You can usually buy them between February and April. Look for “pullets” because they are female.  A full grown chicken between 2 months and 2 years old will lay approximately 5 eggs per week. In order to get a dozen per week, buy 3 to 4 chickens. Make sure your coop size is large enough to accommodate them. There should be 3 to 4 square feet (0.9 to 1.2 square meters) of space per chicken inside the coop and 10 square feet (3 square meters) of space per chicken outside the coop. A mixed group will provide varied sizes and colors. The following are some breeds to consider:  Americana chickens, sometimes called “Easter Eggers” are prized for their colored eggs. Other popular breeds are Rhode Island reds, Cochin chickens and Barred Rocks. Breeds called Australorps, Orpingtons and Faverolles are considered “winter layers” so it may be worth buying them in cold-weather areas. Breeds that are considered “fancy” will lay fewer eggs. They are developed genetically for their looks rather than...

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Write a summary of the previous text in Chinese:
可以考虑买母鸡。 养鸡第一年，要侧重于购买雏鸡而不是孵蛋。 将雏鸡带回家之前要装好孵蛋器。 从当地饲料店为雏鸡购买饮水器、喂食器和雏鸡饲料。 在当地饲料店或者网上购买鸡苗。 购买产不同种类鸡蛋的鸡。