I have been wondering about this exact topic.
I have been raising chickens for about 12 years starting in Ontario, but moving from job to job (and country to country) forced me to give my girls to other backyard hen enthusiasts. Right now, I have nine 3-and-a-half-year-olds out of my initial day-old purchase of 15. They are laying just about as frequently as ever. Included is a buff Orpington, a black Australorp, a Delaware, a New Hampshire Red, three Easter Eggers and two Golden Buffs (which I hadn't heard of previously; Meyer Hatchery touts them as their best layers).
So, I was wondering about my middle-aged girls, their laying future, their lifespan, and so forth. This article was just what I needed to read.
I am glad to say that I don't need to wait to have a lap chicken. Two of my girls insist on being picked up every morning, the rest range from moderately friendly to very shy. Thanks again for this story.
I have been raising chickens for about 12 years starting in Ontario, but moving from job to job (and country to country) forced me to give my girls to other backyard hen enthusiasts. Right now, I have nine 3-and-a-half-year-olds out of my initial day-old purchase of 15. They are laying just about as frequently as ever. Included is a buff Orpington, a black Australorp, a Delaware, a New Hampshire Red, three Easter Eggers and two Golden Buffs (which I hadn't heard of previously; Meyer Hatchery touts them as their best layers).
So, I was wondering about my middle-aged girls, their laying future, their lifespan, and so forth. This article was just what I needed to read.
I am glad to say that I don't need to wait to have a lap chicken. Two of my girls insist on being picked up every morning, the rest range from moderately friendly to very shy. Thanks again for this story.
