Chicken question

[marie1428]

Hi. My landlord would like to find a rescue for her 2 older hens since she recently bought 3 younger chickens. Her two older hens are 6-7 years old. Do older chickens do well with younger ones? I would like to help her find a rescue bc I want what is best for them. However I was reading hens can be bullies and thinking it may be best for them to stay where they’re at since they are about 7 years old instead of introducing them into a new environment that could be stressful. Any thoughts???

 

[kattabelly]

Why exactly does she want to re-home the older hens?

Because she doesn't think they'll get on with the younger chickens? Because she doesn't have enough space for all of them? Because the older ones are laying fewer eggs and she doesn't want to keep paying to feed them? Some other reason?

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Older hens are an asset to a young flock-they will show them how to roost and when to go into the coop. They will also keep the peace among the younger ones. A multi-generational flock is the best kind of flock in my opinion and re-homing older chickens is very unlikely to happen.

 

[kattabelly]

They will also keep the peace among the younger ones. A multi-generational flock is the best kind of flock in my opinion and re-homing older chickens is very unlikely to happen.

I was looking for a couple of older hens earlier this year for that reason. Couldn't find anyone willing to sell or give any away because like you say, they are still an asset.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I was looking for a couple of older hens earlier this year for that reason. Couldn't find anyone willing to sell or give any away because like you say, they are still an asset.

I started my new flock with two older girls and they have been great! My last flock was also run by two older hens and I sold the whole flock together to some people who were happy to have an established, multi-generational flock.

 

[marie1428]

Why exactly does she want to re-home the older hens?

Because she doesn't think they'll get on with the younger chickens? Because she doesn't have enough space for all of them? Because the older ones are laying fewer eggs and she doesn't want to keep paying to feed them? Some other reason?

She said there’s not enough space and she hopes nature takes its course for the older ones . She said the older ones didn’t like the younger ones at first but they are getting along better now. The chickens go back and forth between two states at different times of the year.

 

[marie1428]

I was looking for a couple of older hens earlier this year for that reason. Couldn't find anyone willing to sell or give any away because like you say, they are still an asset.

If you’re still willing to adopt I can ask her.

 

[marie1428]

Older hens are an asset to a young flock-they will show them how to roost and when to go into the coop. They will also keep the peace among the younger ones. A multi-generational flock is the best kind of flock in my opinion and re-homing older chickens is very unlikely to happen.

So sounds like they are better off staying where they are.

 

[kattabelly]

She said there’s not enough space and she hopes nature takes its course for the older ones . She said the older ones didn’t like the younger ones at first but they are getting along better now. The chickens go back and forth between two states at different times of the year.

So sounds like they are better off staying where they are.

Well, that depends. "Not enough space" can mean different things! If they're just a tiny bit more crowded than is ideal and her setup can be altered to mitigate that to an extent without too much difficulty, then I'd say they're better off staying. If they're so overcrowded that it's causing health or behavioural problems, I'd say she needs to cut down to however many chickens she does have room for, if she's not willing to make more space. If the situation is somewhere between those two examples, then she needs to have a think and weigh up what is best for her flock.

I do think it's unfair to expect a rescue to take them on though. Those places are usually desperately short on space and other resources and they need to be able to prioritise the most urgent cases. If your landlord doesn't have enough space for the chickens she chose to get, it's really her responsibility to either make more space or find another home for some of them.

If you’re still willing to adopt I can ask her.

Thanks but I think I might be a bit too far away!

 

[marie1428]

Well, that depends. "Not enough space" can mean different things! If they're just a tiny bit more crowded than is ideal and her setup can be altered to mitigate that to an extent without too much difficulty, then I'd say they're better off staying. If they're so overcrowded that it's causing health or behavioural problems, I'd say she needs to cut down to however many chickens she does have room for, if she's not willing to make more space. If the situation is somewhere between those two examples, then she needs to have a think and weigh up what is best for her flock.

I do think it's unfair to expect a rescue to take them on though. Those places are usually desperately short on space and other resources and they need to be able to prioritise the most urgent cases. If your landlord doesn't have enough space for the chickens she chose to get, it's really her responsibility to either make more space or find another home for some of them.

Thanks but I think I might be a bit too far away!

Yes, I agree. I think she can definitely make more space and she did mention something about that even though she would rather not have to do it. I wasn’t sure how the chicken rescues work so I won’t reach out to any since it does sounds like they are better off staying with her. I used to watch over and feed the hens before I moved so just wanted to help and I want what is best for them.