I'm so in trouble, falling in love with an Easter Egger

[Darklingstorm]

I received my newest fuzzy butts a week ago today and already one is becoming my absolute favorite. She is currently called "Lady Hawk". I so love her coloring and hoping very hard that it doesn't change when she gets her adult feathers. I have 9 older chickens and I've been able to keep a farmer's perspective as to their future. But this one little fuzzy is making it very hard to see her as a future dinner when she is done with egg laying.

 

[trophywife]

What a pretty little thing, thanks for sharing

 

[Sonic Pug]

Go ahead and keep her around. She's a sweetie

 

[magicpigeon]

Quote:
X2 she's so Adorable!! I'd keep her!

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

Why kill her? Chickens can live 10+ years and lay for most of their life. They just lay less as they get older. No rule saying you have to kill her! Treat her as a pet!

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

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Because after a few years they don't lay enough eggs to earn their keep.

She is cute though!

 

[Illia]

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Because after a few years they don't lay enough eggs to earn their keep.

She is cute though!

Then maybe try chickens not from hatchery stock? . . . . I've heard of and even personally known a lot of chickens who lived beyond 3 years and continued laying just as well as they did their second, sometimes even first year.


And putting the "hatchery stock" subject away, some Easter Eggers are actually known to be some pretty reliable layers, beyond the normal 3 years. Their origin breed, the Quechua can continue laying even beyond 10 years.

 

[3chimama]

I have an Easter Egger named Bossy and I just adore her! She is constantly coming up to the house to be picked up and held. Yours is adorable!

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

Quote:
Because after a few years they don't lay enough eggs to earn their keep.

She is cute though!

Then maybe try chickens not from hatchery stock? . . . . I've heard of and even personally known a lot of chickens who lived beyond 3 years and continued laying just as well as they did their second, sometimes even first year.


And putting the "hatchery stock" subject away, some Easter Eggers are actually known to be some pretty reliable layers, beyond the normal 3 years. Their origin breed, the Quechua can continue laying even beyond 10 years.

I was more refering to a chicken living 10+ years, after 2-3 years egg production drops. I have mostly mutts, and thats when they start slowing down, about 2 1/2 years.