I keep mine until they die of old age, though it's not for everyone. I have hens who are 5-8 years old still laying, though of course, at a greatly reduced rate than in their earlier lives. Now, these are not hatchery birds, but heritage stock or breeder stock. My hatchery Brahma is almost 8 years old but did lay 2-3 eggs at the beginning of the year. She's earned her place here, certainly. Longest living hatchery bird I've had so far.
I have Delawares, Barred, blue, black and splash Plymouth Rocks and a couple of remaining Ameraucana hens, plus a couple of Easter Eggers and three or four other mixed breeds. None really seem to quit laying until they pass 5 years old and even then, they rarely just quit, but lay in spurts.
I bet plenty of folks would take 2 year old hens. They are nowhere near finished laying (except maybe some high production hatchery birds, depending on their genetics).
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