How do you make a chicken live longer?

[IdyllwildAcres]

We have today, thats it. If we wake up tomorrow then once again we have today. Just feed them well and love them today.

Gary

 

[Stayc]

I was doing that too! It's taken a lot of discipline on my part to stop doing that and it was totally my fault that they became super picky and refused to eat their feed for a while.

Me too! Now i treat them once a day and till some dirt. They go crazy for the worms.

 

[Hyper_Chicken05]

I think you do want pets.
I keep chickens for food, they give eggs, then are meat in the freezer by age 3.
New group of birds every year to sell enough eggs to pay for feed/supplies year round. I don't have enough space or money to keep pet(non-producing) chickens.
I have a dog for a pet.
Just a different perspective.

Wow ummmmm... That is sad. It is worth having chickens as pets because they can be something different that the regular old cat or dog. And the fact they give you eggs makes them a productive pet. It’s kinda like you use your birds and slaves and when they get to old to work, you execute them.

 

[aart]

It’s kinda like you use your birds and slaves and when they get to old to work, you execute them.

Yep, Food, not Pets. ...do you eat chicken?

 

[BantyChooks]

Wow ummmmm... That is sad. It is worth having chickens as pets because they can be something different that the regular old cat or dog. And the fact they give you eggs makes them a productive pet. It’s kinda like you use your birds and slaves and when they get to old to work, you execute them.

Nope. Here's my unsolicited viewpoint on it...
All animals must die some day. That is the way of it. When they stop laying eggs entirely, they are often getting old and creaky and uncomfortable. By humanely slaughtering them, we are sparing them the agony of dying of sickness or old age, and by not waiting to the last gasp their flesh can still be utilized with gratefulness.

There is a member here, or was here, that had hens laying up to 7--8 years of age. I'd say that's a pretty good life for a bird. I personally don't cull at age three.... they've still got some life in 'em then, but whatever floats a person's boat. Many of us here keep birds purely for production. I certainly admit to having some special pets that I will keep as long as possible. Then there are the production flock members. Is there really a difference? No, except the one in my mind.

Wouldn't say my birds are slaves either. They look pretty happy to me, getting to free range and just be a chicken all day.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Wow ummmmm... That is sad. It is worth having chickens as pets because they can be something different that the regular old cat or dog. And the fact they give you eggs makes them a productive pet. It’s kinda like you use your birds and slaves and when they get to old to work, you execute them.

Yes, you NAILED it. They are slaves, either lay an egg or off with their heads! Now I do not eat chickens, so I will be moving mine along before 3 so someone else can eat them, well except for the ones my daughters granted retirement to, so Fluffy and Ester get to be freeloaders. The rest are slaves!

Gary

 

[Hyper_Chicken05]

Nope. Here's my unsolicited viewpoint on it...
All animals must die some day. That is the way of it. When they stop laying eggs entirely, they are often getting old and creaky and uncomfortable. By humanely slaughtering them, we are sparing them the agony of dying of sickness or old age, and by not waiting to the last gasp their flesh can still be utilized with gratefulness.

There is a member here, or was here, that had hens laying up to 7--8 years of age. I'd say that's a pretty good life for a bird. I personally don't cull at age three.... they've still got some life in 'em then, but whatever floats a person's boat. Many of us here keep birds purely for production. I certainly admit to having some special pets that I will keep as long as possible. Then there are the production flock members. Is there really a difference? No, except the one in my mind.

Wouldn't say my birds are slaves either. They look pretty happy to me, getting to free range and just be a chicken all day.

And it’s not supported among humans?. I prefer to let my hens live a nice natural life and die a natural way. I will also make sure that the hens get extra care when they’re old so that there’s no suffering.

 

[Hyper_Chicken05]

Yep, Food, not Pets. ...do you eat chicken?

I still eat chicken, but barely. The thing that I definitely don’t do is eat the chickens I care for and raise. Chickens can be Pets just as much as dogs or cats. That’s why I don’t support caged chickens or broiler chicks. And I make sure the chickens I eat are treated nicely. I don’t eat egg production chickens aswell.

 

[Hyper_Chicken05]

Yep, Food, not Pets. ...do you eat chicken?

Do you free range your flock?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I still eat chicken, but barely. The thing that I definitely don’t do is eat the chickens I care for and raise. Chickens can be Pets just as much as dogs or cats. That’s why I don’t support caged chickens or broiler chicks. And I make sure the chickens I eat are treated nicely. I don’t eat egg production chickens aswell.

One aspect of chicken keeping I like is everyone can do something different, and everyone has a different opinion on how to best keep their chickens. No one way is right. What is right for others may not be right for you. That's okay. BYC is about sharing different ideas and ways, while respecting others choices. It the main reason I enjoy this site.