Do you only keep your laying hens two years?

[okiron]

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Wow, in human years that would be like..... dead. I'd like to find out what they were eating!

 

[LynneP]

My hens are here for life, I'll get more chicks as productions slows...

 

[beepbeepinajeep]

I am pretty sure I read it in Home to Roost (I am really enjoying it!).

 

[Laskaland]

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From a commercial production perspective NO ONE does that, lol. They buy these super layer hybrids that give out after 2 years. Poor things.
It depends if you can afford to feed them (the older gals) or not. Many on here say not to mix ages of chickens due to disease and picking on, and such, but I had done it pretty well so far. I guess my plan would be to add a few new hens every 6 months or so, so that when the old ladies retire, there is a new gang to take over!!

When I bought my hens I bought the dual purpose gals, knowing that eventually I would be eating the chicken. We're just a family farm, so I was thinking from a family perspective rather than an egg business view...

Anyway, they will lay. I have heard up to 5 years pretty well IF you get a breed that is a good egg layer (not a hybrid type, just a Rock, or a Rhodie or an Orpington)

Christina

 

[GrannySue]

My 5 old hybrids are living a life of luxury as retirees. They laid eggs regularly during their most productive lives, but now their infrequent eggs are often quite ugly and I boil them (the eggs, not the chickens) and feed them back to the other chickens, the ducks and my dogs.
It's my theory that the factory-produced Hylines or their equivalent have been bred to lay for only a couple of years and then just stop. Even during the very short days of winter I always had eggs from these girls until their supply was used up.
I do have 5 year-old girls who are taking up the slack. And I'm getting 3-4 duck eggs from my runners, but I'm not running a business here.

I call my place the Feathered Aquarium. Lots of people spend $$$ and time on fish. Not to eat, but to watch.
So? I watch them.