"Chicken Retirement Home"

[write2caroline]

I am wondering if older birds go broody? I think that they could serve a better purpose if they are rearing chicks.
Caroline

 

[featherz]

I'm veggie, so I won't be eating my birds, but I have a TON of forest around my house and I'm thinking the non layers can still help by keeping the bug population down.

 

[9 Feathers Farm]

My HUSBAND is the one in the family that named the MEAT birds. I had to tell him to "suck it up" when it came time to process.

 

[theoldchick]

In response to the comment about women and children naming pets and so forth.....Ain't nothing wrong with the nurturing side of women. Comes in handy when raising children and livestock. I couldn't imagine our species surviving without the caring nature of human females. We take in the sick, the not so perfect, and try our best to provide comfort and care. It's usually the female in the family who has the newborn calf near the fireplace, making sure the formula is just so, giving the injections at the correct time. Or the woman has a bathtub turned into a brooder for 'slow' chicks. Women provide the 'extra' we sometimes need in order to soften the hard side of living.

To be perfectly fair to the menfolk - don't forget we need somebody to kill our meat. Somebody has to do the job to keep us fed. All the nurturing in the world ain't gonna do us any good if we starve to death!

Anyway, old chickens can provide a service. I know of a family down the road whose daughter cares for the old hens. She is an avid gardener-does all the composting, seed selecting and so forth. She uses the old timers to work her compost heaps. She says they do a great job of breaking everything down, getting all the grubs out, and turning the pile. And the old gals think they are in heaven.

 

[teach1rusl]

Quote:
Well said...

 

[al6517]

Quote:
That was so very well said and put in such a way that we all understand, your right as rain on this. Women sure do make the rough edges of life smooth again, thank God for them.
Ok so for those of you that know me, and see this post, don't think I am going soft on ya LOL.

AL

 

[old geezer]

Quote:

i'am with you , i'am no namy pamy ,but i can't find myself eating a pet , besides , my ole biddy of 47 yrs hasn't culled me

 

[sheila3935]

Our chickens are young so hopefully death is a long way off. My hubby has already planned for them to live long and die of old age. He even said he will make a liitle chicken graveyard. Unforunatly we already have one baby chick in the graveyard that died at 3 days old. She is next to my daughters hampster Harold complete with tombstome that says Harold and Buffy sleep well sweet girls you are missed( my daughter idea)

 

[tnchickenut]

I have always read that chickens lay their entire lives... they just dramatically slow down after 2-3 years depending on breed. I have 4 year old Dels that still lay about every three days and considering that these particular Dels saved me from starvation and forclosure durring my two years laid off.... they will not be killed off.
Now, in the future, for economic reasons, my laying flock which is still young will be thinned out. All this said I have about 200 chickens and feeding 100 layers that I keep to sell eggs and they are not laying.... well, that's bad buisness.

I guess it comes down to... are the pets? Or are they livestock? If they are pets... keep them! They'll suprise you every now and again with a egg when they are older. Just add a few young 'ens to make sure you get SOME eggs on a regular basis.

Keep in mind though, no one knows for sure how long chickens live.... some have reported hens living 20 years! My best friends brother is in his 40's and crap-you-not has a rooster he bought when he was 18!!!!! That thing is ratty tat but it's still alive!!

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

The only time we have culled any chickens was about 30 roosters ... my chickens had been hatching out babies like mad so I had about 30 roosters too many and after we got rid of those roosters I still have 30 +

Anyways ...
I think my hens deserve to live a long happy life and not be killed off juust because they don't lay as many eggs are they used to!
I had a Buff Orpington hen that lived to be 13 years old and finally something got her out of the tree she roosted in so who knows how long she 'would' have lived!

I have 60 + Grown chickens that are all farely old I plan on just letting them live off the rest of their lives and then once they kind of "Die Off" then I will replace then. I have 40 - 50 + young birds ( not counting the ones in the incubator and under broodies ) for replacements.

I vote for Chicken Retirement Home!