After they stop laying

[Bluerosesd]

ok I read that in general chickens will lay for so many years then stop laying. They live for like 8 ish years. What do you do with your older chickens that don’t lay anymore? I am wanting them for pets with the icing on the cake being I get eggs.

 

[LRH97]

I myself don't do much butchering so I usually don't go that route. Not that I disagree with it. Mainly because I don't have time, but that's what some people do. Usually not overly popular with your average backyard chicken keeper. I usually sell off my older birds, and I'm sure most of them wind up as soup but that is the other purpose of the birds, after all. If you're content with them just being pets, you may not have to worry about what to do with them once they stop laying.

The first year is of course the hen's most productive and it gradually slows from that point on. However, production usually just doesn't flat out stop. The oldest girl in my flock is probably working on 5 years old and I still get eggs from her every once in a while!

 

[Erin80]

I don’t know what we will do once they stop laying. Hard to say. We have had to dispatch two roosters (because we wanted pullets but ended up with two cockerels) and both my husband and I hated the entire process. He says he wants no part in butchering a chicken again, and I feel the same. I guess we will either just keep them and let them live out their retirement years, or sell them....but I can’t see myself doing that. Lol

 

[bobbi-j]

If you just want pets, keep them around. Many people keep their chickens after their laying slows down or stops all together.

We process ours, but we keep them for eggs and meat. If I want more eggs, some need to become meat.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I keep my flock as pets that produce eggs.... and am currently very limited in my flock size due to city regulation. I cannot afford to keep a non producing bird. I cycle birds out after the second laying cycle....they still have a decent attraction level for selling, which pays for the replacement chick. Alternatively, I will give away (depending on circumstance) and am not opposed to processing, just haven't done it in years

 

[bobbi-j]

There really is no right or wrong answer, but it’s good that OP is thinking about it now, rather than later.

 

[lisa523]

I let my older ones hang around. Once in a blue moon they lay an egg. Mine are hatchery and the oldest are hitting 5 years old now.

 

[sourland]

Pets have lifetime rights. Others become soup or stew chickens.

 

[sumi]

Hens that are bred to be very productive layers can and often do, develop internal laying and other issues when they stop laying eggs regularly. Keeping those hens alive and as pets after their productive years can be as cruel as the kindness intended, unfortunately. I recently read this rather eye opening thread on the topic on one of BYC's sister forums:

https://www.sufficientself.com/thre...-they-stop-laying-warning-graphic-pics.15366/

Mind, there are graphic pics in the thread, but it's very interesting and educational and well worth a read.

 

[lisa523]

Hens that are bred to be very productive layers can and often do, develop internal laying and other issues when they stop laying eggs regularly. Keeping those hens alive and as pets after their productive years can be as cruel as the kindness intended, unfortunately. I recently read this rather eye opening thread on the topic on one of BYC's sister forums:

https://www.sufficientself.com/thre...-they-stop-laying-warning-graphic-pics.15366/

Mind, there are graphic pics in the thread, but it's very interesting and educational and well worth a read.

That is very informative. Thank you. I recently did put down one of my barred rocks. I could feel something very odd in her crop. It was gel like, it wasn't sour or hard. I knew it was something else. So after a day or 2 of checking her over, I did the humane thing and I put her down. Afterward I did open her up and it was all completely black inside and felt like jelly.