Keeping Older Hens

[Shadrach]

We plan to let ours live out their lives, and get some new chicks every 2 years to keep the laying going...we have them for pets as much as egg production

I have to be honest and write I'm finding it quite hard watching them grow old.
The hens status seems to change when they can't lay eggs anymore. While the young hens don't bully them as such, they do seem to take priority for food, both with respect to the roosters and the other hens.
Here the eldest now goes to bed early and doesn't charge out of the coop in the mornings like she used to. The changes seemed to have happened quite quickly.
If you watch your flock regularly it would be interesting for all chicken keepers to have more information on the behavior of ageing chickens. There just isn't much reliable information out there on this topic.

 

[Sungrove Farmstead]

We free range, so food priority and such isn't really an issue - my oldest girls are only 3, still lay everyday and they rule over the younger crop...I pay attention to the personalities of all of them so yeah, will be interesting to see if the dynamics change, with large animals I feel like it's half an half - either the oldies rule or they get pushed down the pecking order

 

[igorsMistress]

I think it depends on your goals and why you have chickens to begin with. Pets is one thing, food is another. How many chickens can you afford to feed for ten years?

 

[LavvyTaffy]

Pebbles, my Speckled Sussex is currently eight and she'll live out her full life here, Lord willin'.

 

[SueT]

I have added new chicks each year, but now with 10 birds, my coop is maxed out. I let the flock free range and usually lose some each year to predators, however, I did not lose any last year. My oldest are 3 years and still laying well. I am thinking of selling some of the 2 year olds at the poultry swap this weekend. Chicken math also involves subtraction.

 

[Morrigan]

Space limits, hatching chicks, and overcrowding often require some tough decisions. Problems with predators have "solved" my problem in the past, but with improved security, I need to be realistic going forward. I have two hens designated at pets at this point, including my oldest hen who, at 6, is the last of my original flock and one of the survivors of the great bobcat massacre. She is still laying 3-4 eggs a week and in excellent health.

The rest? I've decided no one else is off limits. I will cull for unthriftiness, bullying and suspected health issues first, and old age only as needed to keep the coop from being overcrowded. I don't begrudge them the food costs, but I like to give broody hens the chance to be mothers, and that means subtracting chickens to make room.

 

[woodmort]

When I first started 30 years ago my birds were on a 3-year plan. I'd sell them to any takers during their 3rd year. About 10 years ago, for no particular reason, I stopped doing that. Now they just simply live out their lives, competing for food with the layers and generally getting in the way. Whether fortunately or unfortunately, most seem to fall prey to some sort of predator or disease along the way--the oldest hen I've had has been 5 years although I now have a 7-year old rooster(the hens that were hatched with him having long ago passed to the great coop in the sky). The main advantages are that in the winter where the more birds in the coop the warmer it is and, since I free range, the more bugs get eaten.

One thing to keep in mind. Generally if you find a buyer for older birds he/she isn't especially interested in layers, more likely they want them for stew.

 

[gimmie birdies]

All mine are last years or younger (with the exception of my avatar's daughter) I don't have troubles finding older hens homes, but I always disclose the age, but most people adopting, may have one older hen from a flock and are looking to find friends for that hen, or they may just be looking for laying hens. I charge $5 for 2 year old hens and give away older than that, I am not trying to make a profit. But I always have people asking if I have extras.

 

[boskelli1571]

I have several hens that are 7+ years. Lost 3 this past winter - old age. Just b/c they no longer lay eggs is not a reason for me to kill them, they have worked hard and deserve their retirement! I add new birds every couple of years

 

[dalasgalas]

We have a small pet backyard flock. There would be anarchy if I tried to cull based on egg laying so I've made plans on keeping the freeloaders until they just fall over dead in the back yard. From natural causes of course.