How long do you keep your layers??

[chickolet]

I hope this isnt a taboo question.. But how long do you keep your laying hens??? I have a friend that butchers them after the second year of laying.. says their production goes way down after the first year...

I am an animal lover and would make a terrible farmer, lol.. I know its personal preference whether you keep them or not, but how many years is about the norm for egg production?? i have isabrowns, black austrolorps, leghorns, etc.

thanks!

 

[loran507]

I originally thought I would be able to butcher my hens when they stopped producing, but after my daughter names them , I just can't do it . It is mostly a hobby so the eggs they lay are a bonus, but I let them live out their natural lives.

 

[Uzuri]

I'm curious to know this too -- specifically for heritage breeds, since I hear that they produce longer than the production breeds.

My plan is that they go when they're not earning their keep. The exception being those who EARN a name. I have two with names.

Oh, and the ones with names still go if they ever turn out to be egg eaters. Nobody gets away with THAT.

Edit: And I know I can do the deed because I already did for one who was a bully. She was yummy.

 

[kuntrygirl]

I keep my layers until they die. I had one that was 10 years old. She died about a month ago.

She was my favorite. She was a RIR.

 

[Fred's Hens]

It is generally true that layers will do most of their laying in the first few years of their life, regardless of breed. A generality, but it holds pretty well. Nature favors the younger hens.

The flock keeper makes decisions about such things. Many factors are involved. In terms of economics and feed to lay ratios, most cull after second year. But, if fertile eggs production, breeding or brooding is involved, the flock keeper may have additional motivation for keeping older, less productive hens than merely for fresh table eggs.

 

[Pinky]

Quote:
I plan to keep my layers as long as they live too. Some of my 3-4 year old hens still lay good enough for me. I don't eat too many eggs so they are just a bonus.
(My 6 yr old game laid 2 eggs last week!)

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
I plan to keep my layers as long as they live too. Some of my 3-4 year old hens still lay good enough for me. I don't eat too many eggs so they are just a bonus.
(My 6 yr old game laid 2 eggs last week!)

I don't think that my girl was laying at 10 years old but that was ok. I just enjoyed having her around as I do all of my other girls that are getting up there in age. I have a group that is about 5 years old (Buff Orpingtons, Barred Rocks and New Hampshire Reds).

 

[Pinky]

Quote:
I plan to keep my layers as long as they live too. Some of my 3-4 year old hens still lay good enough for me. I don't eat too many eggs so they are just a bonus.
(My 6 yr old game laid 2 eggs last week!)

I don't think that my girl was laying at 10 years old but that was ok. I just enjoyed having her around as I do all of my other girls that are getting up there in age. I have a group that is about 5 years old (Buff Orpingtons, Barred Rocks and New Hampshire Reds).

Sorry for your loss, but I bet she had a good long life just living with you.

 

[TommyDaDelaware]

I dont think we'll be able to eat ours. We'll just let them live out their lives. they are red Star Sex Linked, and they are bigger looking, but they never get any meat on them. That and they are more like pets than farm chickens!!