Keeping Older Hens

[MissChick@dee]

I still have the 1st chick I ever hatched. She will be 12 years old soon. All my hens live out their natural life here and a lot of the roosters do too. Most of them will live to 8 or 9 years old. I do add a few new chickens every year to replace the old ones that have died.

Wow 12 years. Awesome

 

[MissChick@dee]

My chickens were my retirement gift to myself. I never intend to get more than what I started with. Ok, I did get 4 more than what I started with but that's it! Seriously! Stop laughing...

At 67, I'm aware that my chickens could outlive me or I could become unable to care for them. It is my intent, however, that they continue to live their lives as ridiculously spoiled chickens for as long as possible.

 

[windychicks]

I don't cull any bird unless its hateful aggressive or mean. I've got a fella near 6 years old. White Leghorn still fertile and giving me a lot of new layers. If they still lay why cull? I adore my hens, have plenty of boys to process.
If your plan is for stew hens a heritage breed usually lays for years. What breed do you keep?

i have a mix, 2 EE, 2 Buff Brahmas, a SLW, speckled sussex, Salmon F, Dark brahma, these girls are all turning 3. Then I have several silkies, a Polish, a gorgeous bantam rooster. The little ones will be one in a month or so.
I'd like to add a few good layers that are also friendly. I'm so happy to see so many people let their hens live out their lives with them. I thought I was one of the few based on some things I was reading.

 

[MissChick@dee]

I started when I was 50 figuring I'd outlive those first ones as well--now I'm 80 and just added 3 dozen more.

Right On!

 

[MissChick@dee]

Mine are pets
My garden buddies.
They bring me joy.
I wouldn’t cull my dogs if they slowed or stopped....wait a second!
My dogs have been freeloaders and moochers since day one!
Buncha’ beggars & shedders.
So my chickens will be treated the same....for as long as they live.
Injuries, illness what ever cannot be treated. I will Humanely euthanize them just like I would for my dogs.

 

[AnotherKim]

Mine are under two years old, so it's hard to say what I'll do as they age. They free range my backyard, and I supplement with layer feed, or they fight the dog for her food. We're in the city, so no roosters. I try to get only pullets, but a couple of roos have slipped in. We have a feed store that will buy roosters, so I take them there. I have a "don't ask, don't tell" policy about that. I'm at 10 chickens now, 1 Leghorn, 2 Copper Marans, 1 Wyandotte, 1 Polish (wait, she's about 4, she survived thief night two years ago), 2 Americaunas (due to start laying in a month or two), and four Silkies (about a month old). I probably won't add any more for a couple of years. We're allowed 25 in the city. If I keep the count down, hopefully I won't have to think about culling. Though I would REALLY like some Olive Eggers...

 

[gimmie birdies]

I have 2 hens coming back to me, Marilyn a white silky who is 10, who was bought at a feed store. and Maise a double frizzle (blue) I hatched out who is 5? 2 SFH that I didn't hatch out but came from a diff friend's farm, and the last one, I am not sure, I think it is an EE.

 

[Chickassan]

Of course my flock will die of old age. I could never get rid of them Who would I have morning coffee with then?
Not to mention they are part of my diet plan, I only get to eat maybe a third of my breakfast. No, they have to stay for my health.

 

[ChicksDigItFCF]

Older hens ones help the newer birds know where to roost, lay eggs, etc.

 

[Hopperkiller]

I purposely have received a friend's older layers sine I wasn't interested in their egg production. I seek insect control mainly grasshoppers. If only they would eat fire ants they would be perfect. But now I can use minimal insecticides on my place. My shrubs and fruit trees are protected by chickens. They race the cottontails to get at the fallen fruit and try to knock peaches off low limbs. Some produce during spring and summer at a reduced rate. In the winter I buy my eggs from the previous owner when I need eggs.