I do not understand the mathematics behind the dilemma. I’m assuming only the firts chicks cost money, because down the line they will breed.
But feeding them, housing them - vitamins and doctoring costs a lot of money.
So anyone with couple or more chickens - how much does it cost to have them on the table? And realistically how many eggs do you get?
Not even just corn. Also all the ticks, ants, and other pest insects in the yard, and possibly even some of your food waste. They literally turn trash and straight up pests into food.
Eggs taste better when they do, but it depends on local predators, too.