old hen

[chicken guy]

ok so i have an old hen cant lay eggs and she is to tender to eat i mean i have no chice but to get rid of her she is costing me money i love her but i have to do something what should i do i anit going to waste her

 

[sumi]

You could just keep her as a pet. One hen won't cost too much to feed.

 

[chickenbythesea]

or just give her to someone who wants a hen for a pet

 

[chicken guy]

i dont know many people in the area with chickens

 

[gg706]

homemade chicken noodle soup ??? It will be difficult but sometimes a hen must be removed from the flock. She had a great life with you and you took good care of her now it is time for her to go and fulfill the end of the deal. I have heard if cooked long enough some people prefer the meat of older hen....I do not have personal experience with this or tasted it. beekissed would be a good person to ask what to do with her. She is on several threads that have to do with butchering birds.

 

[gg706]

If it helps you any I will share an experience I had this weekend. I had a hen...10 months old...she was attempting to go to the bathroom and nothing was coming out. She went around for 24 hours with no change and was getting more uncomfortable. So I posted here on BYC and people responded and said it sounded like she was eggbound. So I brought her in, spent $50.00 on supplies, and nursed her for 3 days... On the third day she was suffering so bad I decided I needed to put an end to it. Not an easy thing for me to do...I had never killed a chicken before and she was my pet. I went out to the shed and got out my big tree branch loppers, made sure they were good and sharp. In the dark I carried her out behind the shed I had the house light on so I could see enough but not alot. It helped her and I that it was dark, chickens are very relaxed and unaware in the darkness. I said a prayer to take my pet quickly. I set her on the ground and put my foot very gently over her just to hold her in the same place. Put the loppers around her neck said another prayer and clamped them down as fast and as hard as I could. She flapped for a second and then fell silent. She went quickly and as easily as possible. It was difficult but I still feel it was the right thing to do. After her death I checked her out to see what was going on...she had a very large egg and she was bantam size. It would have been her first egg and my first Araucana egg.
If you have thought about it and have decided to let her go. Don't feel guilty about it. We all do our best to take good care of our birds...in return we get eggs and meat. It is her purpose. The alternative is to wait until she is sick and you will have to do it then and will not be able to eat the meat. Just my thoughts. I do not mean to be offensive to anyone else posting on your thread.

 

[Kristin Brown]

A few options you could consider:

1. Post flyer at feed store or advertise on Craigslist (farm+garden section). Honestly an old hen does not have much cash value..."Free to good home" or $5 is reasonable.

2. Butcher hen for your own consumption and learning experience.

3. Keep the hen until she dies of natural causes.

 

[TimBaumann]

I would say to only use culling as a VERY LAST OPTION! Try to find her a home if you can't keep her but sumi is right one single hen as a pet doesn't cost a lot. This is just my opinion but i guess you should do what best suits you!

I would take her without second thought if I lived near you!

 

[Blondiechic]

gg706 did it not cross your mind to go the vet with your chicken? That story is disturbing, I am certain you wouldn't want to go that way.
As for the not laying hen, I agree with the others, find a home, advertise her, make an effort, try the local school even - you say you 'love her' well, act like it!
I too would take her but doubt she would last a trip half way round the world...

 

[chooniecat]

I am an extremely animal compassionate person and have learned practicality is the kindest. I don't trust other people enough to "rehome" my animals(even food animals need kind treatment) SO have learned to process them (quick,humane)and altho I have never eaten any chicken over 18 months old they make excellent soup if cooked slow/long(in enough water to cover chicken). Costs a lot of money to take a chicken to a vet and I treat mine like chickens need treated and they're happy to the end.