Is there an average age when hens stop laying? I am new at this chicken stuff but love it! Have only 4 hens at this time. Hope someone can enlighten me! 6 zinnias
Most hens stop laying at around 7/8 years, although during this time egg laying decreases 20% a year. This is why most people replenish laying flocks yearly.
Wow! I was just about to ask the same thing. I was also wondering how long the chickens will live and once they don't make eggs anymore, what do you do with them? Are they ok to eat when they get older? At what age are they too old? Is there some sort of retirement for these birds that have been so giving for so long?
My girls are living out their ripe old age in retirment and will never be eaten.. heck they are part of the family.. I have a RIR and a Barred Rock hen that are each 8 years old.. this past summer was first summer I did not really get any eggs from them.. we'll see what happens this summer.. they are still very spunky and love to forage.. and still dominate the much younger crowd too.. my matriarchs will stay with me until their time comes and then a proper burial it will be. Plus I can never fathom eating something I consider a "pet" or my "kids".
I'm new at this chicken thing. Mine are currently only about 12 weeks old. What I've heard on here is that they lay good through about 3 years then start to decrease the laying rate. I'm planning on keeping my hens until I notice a significant drop in their laying then turn them into chicken and dumpling chickens.
