2 year old hens worth it?

[Chickenmom283]

Agreed!

 

[KingD]

I’m a first timer for getting hens. I’m wondering if it’s worth getting 2 year old hens? Will they still be producing many eggs or will they be close to slowing down?

No use at all unless you want to save them from being beheaded and gaining about 2 eggs a week

 

[Lemon-Drop]

Im talking about the person who willingly sells sick animals and says it's no big deal. When you potentially kill peoples pets because of your greed / ignorance or whatever then it IS a big deal and if someone ever did something like that killed off my Too, well, Id probably end up in jail over it.

Even if it really was no big deal, still, that kind of $#^t needs to be told to the potential new owners UP FRONT, so they know what they are getting into, and can potentially inoculate their existing birds, quarantine the new ones longer or whatever it takes to prevent passing a sickness on.

Well said!

 

[Mamatomany123]

Im talking about the person who willingly sells sick animals and says it's no big deal. When you potentially kill peoples pets because of your greed / ignorance or whatever then it IS a big deal and if someone ever did something like that killed off my Too, well, Id probably end up in jail over it.

Even if it really was no big deal, still, that kind of $#^t needs to be told to the potential new owners UP FRONT, so they know what they are getting into, and can potentially inoculate their existing birds, quarantine the new ones longer or whatever it takes to prevent passing a sickness on.

I agree. If she would have told me about the chicks I wouldnt have got them. No amount of quarantine would do anything, they are carriers for life and now my older girls are also. Best case is they dont show symptoms anymore and we just enjoy them while they're here then get a new flock once they pass. Worst case is they show symptoms any time they're stressed (weather change. Predator attack, molting, anything that stresses a chicken) and I have to treat 14 chickens 3x a day for 5 days and hope they dont build up a resistance to the antibiotic.

 

[Chickenmom283]

No use at all unless you want to save them from being beheaded and gaining about 2 eggs a week

And even if you saved those two- 20 more would prob be beheaded

 

[KingD]

I’m a first timer for getting hens. I’m wondering if it’s worth getting 2 year old hens? Will they still be producing many eggs or will they be close to slowing down?

Can I ask why you want 2 year old hens? Is it the price, the temprement or what?
I'd allways recommend getting POL if you want them for eggs. You could hatch as well.

 

[Ascholten]

Can I ask why you want 2 year old hens? Is it the price, the temprement or what?
I'd allways recommend getting POL if you want them for eggs. You could hatch as well.

While I can not answer for them, I can say that the reason I got older chickens was because I WAS new to it, and did not know about this site yet or any of the real info needed, and did not believe I had the time to raise young ones until they start laying eggs, not to mention older / bigger hens were already producing, and the eggs were my main goal.. at that initial point, and bigger birds would hopefully be less of a target for flying predators. I didn't want to take the chance of Fowling things up and killing em off, where older established hens were likely to be less maintenance, my thoughts at the time.

TO this day, when it comes time to do it over again, or just add to my current flock, Ill get probably 12 to 16 week old or whatever, simply because they ARE older and better able to take care of themselves. Also because id be putting them with existing flock, and the quicker they are able to get to a size to defend themselves from the other bichuz in the flock who may pick on them, the less drama, multiple cages, separation etc etc.. extra work I have to go thru.

Of the 3 original ones, I had, when I put the 3 younger ones in, two of the original went bye bye because of evil temperment, one got to pretend she was and owl and spin her wretched neck 360, the other I gave to a friend who has chickens.

Yes babies are fun to watch and raise from chicks etc but sometimes logistics do not allow for one to really accommodate them the way they really need to be. Hence, getting older hens. Besides, if nobody was interested in older birds, what would their ultimate fate end up being then???




Aaron

 

[KingD]

While I can not answer for them, I can say that the reason I got older chickens was because I WAS new to it, and did not know about this site yet or any of the real info needed, and did not believe I had the time to raise young ones until they start laying eggs, not to mention older / bigger hens were already producing, and the eggs were my main goal.. at that initial point, and bigger birds would hopefully be less of a target for flying predators. I didn't want to take the chance of Fowling things up and killing em off, where older established hens were likely to be less maintenance, my thoughts at the time.

TO this day, when it comes time to do it over again, or just add to my current flock, Ill get probably 12 to 16 week old or whatever, simply because they ARE older and better able to take care of themselves. Also because id be putting them with existing flock, and the quicker they are able to get to a size to defend themselves from the other bichuz in the flock who may pick on them, the less drama, multiple cages, separation etc etc.. extra work I have to go thru.

Of the 3 original ones, I had, when I put the 3 younger ones in, two of the original went bye bye because of evil temperment, one got to pretend she was and owl and spin her wretched neck 360, the other I gave to a friend who has chickens.

Yes babies are fun to watch and raise from chicks etc but sometimes logistics do not allow for one to really accommodate them the way they really need to be. Hence, getting older hens. Besides, if nobody was interested in older birds, what would their ultimate fate end up being then???




Aaron

Yes I understand where your coming from.
I still have a hen which is about 3 years old and doesn't lay a single egg. I have absolutely no idea why I've kept it. I tried out my new axe in her sister a year or so back. Maybe I should do the same or would people be upset? I really don't know, anyway as long as they're still laying then I suppose they've still got a bit of meat on the bone so to speak.

 

[Ascholten]

As long as the life is not just wasted. You raise chickens for eggs or meat. Let's be honest now, the whole 'pet' thing is kind of a side job. People don't generally get chickens for Pets first, and oh BTW it lays eggs too. At least not very often. Another way to look at it, it's a mouth you are feeding that is NOT giving anything back. Now if she was laying for 5 or 6 years and finally petered out, then well, people can get emotional and say well she gave you her best, killing her would be mean, but that's up to you how you look at them.

If you chopped it and ate it, no I don't see where anyone would have the right to get angry, if you chopped it and threw it away then yah I can see some butthurt over it.

The people who would get upset, offer them the opportunity to buy her from you for 20 dollars to save her. Let's see how deep that upset runs

Aaron

 

[Henny101]

Thanks everyone! We’ve decided to get 10 month old hens instead. I’ve learned so much already on the board. I appreciate your input.