Do you only keep your laying hens two years?

[Wifezilla]

They are beautiful and friendly and think I am a goddess!

LOLOL Yes...the goddess of treats

Do you think that this two years and gone thing came from the idea that an old hen might be tough and not so fine for fricassee?

This is where it pays to study a little French cooking.

"Until the 20th century it was common for rural families to have some chickens (for eggs and meat) and a rooster. The rooster would be kept until it was too old to perform its duties, at which time it would be killed and eaten. However, by this time the meat would be hard and stringy, so cooking it slowly in wine would tend to soften the meat and make it more edible."

http://www.france-property-and-information.com/coq-au-vin.htm​

 

[sonew123]

My hens are only 1 yr old and I only have 2 of my original hens left. They have a home for life with me-one is not friendly but the other one is a doll-they love eachother so I wouldnt split them up-all the ones I hatch out now-I try not to get attached because I never know which ones Ill keep or sell. I try not to get to the point where I d have to butcher my own...

 

[WriterofWords]

My girls have a home until they die, and not by my hand. They take care of me with eggs, I take care of them.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I read an article recently, maybe from Backyard Poultry magazine, about how the older hens were preferable for rich flavorful soups and stews. And how they had qualities not found in younger chickens that produced a soup with more health-giving benefits. That's where the practice of serving home-made chicken noodle soup to sick folks came into being.

It was after reading this article that I came to see how this could be an option even for folks who name & know their laying hens. That it could be a worthy purpose for an older non-productive hen. Maybe old Henny isn't laying any more, but she made the most excellent soup that helped Grandpa recover from the flu.

 

[chickw/chicks]

I'm new to this so I may be way off, but I know for myself I could never stew mine. They're pets to me and the eggs are a bonus(well will be when they start laying).Out of six chicks we ended up with five hens and one rooster I'm hoping he works well with the hens because I'm attached to him and don't want to have to give him away.

 

[luvchicks8]

None of my hens have every laid an egg (all different ages) yup not one egg but I could never
eat them

 

[For-The-Love-Of-Chickens]

We will weed out the ones that are not good layers and that are not pets. We have three golden comets that are just to precocious to part with and our dark brahma bantam is the cuddle bug of the group. We are not attached to the other four hens, so we will see how they lay. We are also planning on only keeping our rooster for a couple of years (if that, the way he is turning out!!). I will not be sorry to see him go at all!!

It's so hard not to get attached to the ones with the great personalities!!

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
I agree. Well said.

 

[jjthink]

The feathered and furry in my care have a home for life

JJ

 

[Judy]

Quote:
??? How old? How many? Sure they're not laying where you can't find them? That would be very odd.

Commercial operations have to cull after 2 yrs or so, or go out of business. For the rest of us, in the end, it's a personal choice, and there is no correct answer, there's just your answer.