Congratulations on the newcomers - you will be getting quite a few eggs soon.
We've so far relied on getting hens from commercial egg producers. They sell their hens off here after 72 weeks very cheaply (c $1) as they are past "commercial viability".
They usually keep laying well for at least another 3 years when they go free range.
The eggs are starting to come now, if I can only keep the ducks out of the henhouse... whenever a chicken goes into the henhouse to lay one of the ducks will follow and in their excitement stomp all over the eggs. This is why they're being separated this week. Thanks so much for stopping by