All the talk here about efficient production of beef – same ideas apply to chickens. If you do it like some I know - wild chickens running everywhere, don't know ages or production, no wonder they're costly.
As RR said, you've got to have light on them. My pullets started laying at just over 4 months of age. If yours aren't laying til 9 months, no wonder you're losing money. Just like a cow that isn't bred.
Next, you've got to get the right breed if you're into feed efficiency. The most efficient converters are white leghorns because they lay many large eggs, and are small so less feed goes to support body mass. Only negatives with them are they're flighty and are not good in severe cold, but would be great for Texas. Texas A&M extension wrote this great article on that.
http://agebb.missouri.edu/mac/links/lin ... nknum=2864
My Hoover hatchery catalog lists Australorps at 5 to 6.5 lbs. Leghorns are 3.6 to 3.8 lbs and probably lay better. I also get some Gold Stars (a hybrid) which are 4.1 to 4.2 lbs. And one or two Auracanas (Ameracaunas) for novelty of green eggs.
The next secret is to keep them culled, just as with cows. Can be a challenge to know who is laying. I have a pen split into 2 sections and I put 2 Leghorns (white eggs), 2 Gold Stars (brown eggs) and an Auracana in each part. That helps me know who is laying. If I'm only getting one brown egg, I'll put one of those hens in a crate and see if she lays, if not, she is fired!
Besides the value of eggs, there is value in chicken manure. Good nitrogen for gardens. My pens are raised up on legs for easy cleaning. Pull up the wheelbarrow, open the door and rake the bedding out.
Of course, considering labor, I'm sure you'd do better economically buying store eggs and getting a job at WalMart with your time. If you don't like chickens, don't do them.
Because of the time involved, I refuse to sell for less than $3 a dozen, so I don't have many takers. Most tell me they can get them on sale for a dollar a dozen. I tell them to go for it, if they want bland old eggs. I tell them if they want fresh flavorful eggs at old bland egg prices, they can get their own d—n chickens. People waste money like crazy on latte's , beer or whatever and won't pay an extra buck for quality eggs.
Interesting that we can boil store eggs immediately and be able to peel them. Our fresh eggs, we have to let sit at room temperature several days to let them rot a bit so we can peel after boiling.