how to decrease egg laying in hens?

[estheramelia]

I heard that the best egg layers will die quicker than the others. I don't eat eggs or chickens, i just don't like the taste of both. Should I take the hens to sleep early and darken the cage in the summer? Like, should I lengthen the time of night? I also heard chickens can tell the time, or at least, roosters. So maybe this method won't work? What would you recommend?

 

[birds4kids]

Jumping through hoops to reduce laying would probably cause stress defeating the purpose.
Just don't supliment light to stimulate heavy laying and pick more heritage breeds.

 

[Beekissed]

Standard Cochins would be a nice choice. Nice, beautiful, fluffy and gentle birds that don't lay too awful well but make great pets.

 

[bruceha2000]

Don't get any females, put the males (I ASSUME you like to look at chickens, why else have them if you don't eat them or the eggs?) in an area where their roost can be dark until you and the neighbors are awake. I have no roosters but found out after we moved here that roosters will crow any time of day, not just at dawn because the people 300' down the road have a couple. The lady told me they will crow at 3 AM if a light goes on that they can see.

Or, if you do get females, you will be very hard pressed to NOT easily find people willing to take free eggs that came for a backyard chicken instead of a factory egg farm. Chat with any family, neighbors, friends, put a sign at the road. Your problem won't be how to get rid of them, it will be having too many people willing to take them off your hands.

And as Bee said, there are some breeds that don't lay nearly as well as others. Look for "poor" in the egg laying rating

 

[lazy gardener]

If I wanted to keep chickens, but not eat eggs or meat, I'd get a breed that is not known for being a good layer, I'd keep them through their geriatric years, and I'd sell or give away the eggs. Why limit what God designed them to do? Take the end product and put it to use feeding someone who will appreciate those eggs! Other options: get a couple of roos and have them caponized. Take spent hens from others. (Too old to lay, but still good bug zappers/lawn ornaments)

 

[napahunter]

Then why have chickens if you don't like eggs or chicken. I know it's not for everyone

 

[estheramelia]

my neighbors and parents get the eggs, i get the experience