In your opinion, which is more humane, culling or re-homing?

We have 3 lovely hens that we've hand-raised and kept as backyard chickens for 3 years now. They have been very spoiled with a large yard, treats and luckily, no issues with predation or illnesses. However... one hen has stopped laying (our dominant Buff, who seems healthy and happy, but hasn't laid in months) and the production for the other two has decreased. And while they have become dear pets, we did get them primarily for eggs. While we knew this hard decision would come eventually, we are really torn about actually doing it.

We do have friends with a family farm, who are willing to take them and add them to their laying flock (20-40ish birds) to live out their days. There are roosters and the conditions, while perfectly fine, are not as cushy as what our girls are used to. So we're wondering - which do you think is more humane... a quick and relatively pain-free culling, or a chance to live free-ranging on the farm?

(Our city ordinance only allows for 5 hens, and our tractor coop comfortably holds 4, so just adding more birds isn't really an option. We're thinking of getting two or three chicks to raise, then integrating with our favorite, easygoing Easter Egger, and removing the hen that is not laying any longer and the other noisier, more difficult hen).

Thanks in advance for your consideration and advice!

This is a topic that all backyard chicken owners face yet is rarely talked about.

I'm in pretty much the same boat and we have decided that we will process our older non-laying girls. The dining room table has always been a noble end for a good bird and we've given them good lives. I would not want to cull them yet not eat them. That would be a horrible waste. And - as I got into chickens to enable us to be at least somewhat sustainable and eat in a "from farm to table" manner - it seemed out of context to give them away to someone else to possibly end up on a stranger's table. If they're going to end up on a dining room table, I'd think they'd rather it be mine.

My husband has experience processing chickens but it's been a long time. We've decided that - when we process - we will process no fewer than three at a time. After they're processed, we won't be able to tell which bird is who so we won't know who we're eating.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

We too will be processing our older laying hens. This summer is the time for us. Hard to do for sure since they are dear pets as well as egg producers. The decision was made before we even got our first chick. I plan to hold to the decision.

4adgrrl said:

We do have friends with a family farm, who are willing to take them and add them to their laying flock (20-40ish birds) to live out their days. There are roosters and the conditions, while perfectly fine, are not as cushy as what our girls are used to. So we're wondering - which do you think is more humane... a quick and relatively pain-free culling, or a chance to live free-ranging on the farm?

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Both options seem good.
I would ask the farmers if they really want the chickens or are just willing to take them. If they want the chickens, give them. If the farmers don't mind either way, cull. Either way your hens have had a good life.

OK, just to make sure we're all on the same page, let's work on the terminology. To "cull" bird is simply to remove it from the flock. That means to re-home it or put it in the freezer. I know - it sounds nicer than the alternative...

I understand your dilemma. It's one that every chicken keeper must eventually face. We process our spent laying hens. They have not been pampered nor spoiled, but I'd still rather not send them somewhere else. I've already spent time and money raising them, and I'm not about to practically give them away for someone else to eat. I also know that when my chickens are processed here, they are being killed as quickly and humanely as possible. Something to keep in mind: when you process them, these will not look like the pale, plump mini-turkeys you find in the grocery store. Nor will they be as tender. The best way to cook them is low and slow, or in a pressure cooker. I prefer to presser-can them in pint jars. These will have more texture and flavor than what you buy in the store. Well worth it in my opinion.

Thanks for your input, everyone It really helps to hear it from 'chicken people'.

21hens-incharge said:

We too will be processing our older laying hens. This summer is the time for us. Hard to do for sure since they are dear pets as well as egg producers. The decision was made before we even got our first chick. I plan to hold to the decision.

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I'd made that decision too... but now I'm wavering. Thanks for the reminder and inspiration

bobbi-j said:

OK, just to make sure we're all on the same page, let's work on the terminology. To "cull" bird is simply to remove it from the flock. That means to re-home it or put it in the freezer. I know - it sounds nicer than the alternative...

I understand your dilemma. It's one that every chicken keeper must eventually face. We process our spent laying hens. They have not been pampered nor spoiled, but I'd still rather not send them somewhere else. I've already spent time and money raising them, and I'm not about to practically give them away for someone else to eat. I also know that when my chickens are processed here, they are being killed as quickly and humanely as possible. Something to keep in mind: when you process them, these will not look like the pale, plump mini-turkeys you find in the grocery store. Nor will they be as tender. The best way to cook them is low and slow, or in a pressure cooker. I prefer to presser-can them in pint jars. These will have more texture and flavor than what you buy in the store. Well worth it in my opinion.

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Thanks for the clarification... I kind of realized after I posted it that the verbiage was incorrect. I think it's part of me wanting to skirt around the issue -.-

4adgrrl said:

Thanks for the clarification... I kind of realized after I posted it that the verbiage was incorrect. I think it's part of me wanting to skirt around the issue -.-

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I understand that feeling. I put off butchering day as long as I can. Usually until DH says, "OK, today's the day." It's always kind of a sad day for me, and we've been doing this for years. I just remind myself that that's part of raising chickens and mine are livestock, not pets. It helps me not to name my food. And I think of the good canned chicken that will end up in my pantry.

There are far worse things that can happen to an animal than being humanly dispatched.

Once they are out of your possession you can no longer guaranty their quality of life nor the quality of the end of their life.

I don't understand why someone with 20-40 birds would want to take on spent hens. It sound like things in that flock will have to change in a year or two. 20 -40 unproductive birds is not something most people would be willing or able to support.