Old hens that no longer lay

[3KillerBs]

Retired laying hens make the tastiest chicken and dumplings.

 

[BaaKaaawk]

I personally feel like if they gave me 3 years of their lives laying eggs (which of course if pretty much most of their life), the least I can do is provide for them until they tip over. I'm perfectly fine with people who eat retired hens too though, it's just what I prefer to do.

 

[50-45-1]

I keep my hens regardless of egg production.
My chickens free range and i believe the older seasoned hens teach the younger ones how to better survive by example.
I had a hen as old as 8 years that died of natural causes. I kept her in a large dog kennel her last winter as her arthritis made her limp and her eyes had cataracts and she had trouble navigating to food and water. Stripey was the name given to her when she hatched by my daughter when she was about 9 years old.
my oldest hen i have now is about 6 years old. Everest is her name. She is first in the coop to roost in the evening, and not a far ranger into risky areas during the day. I hope the pullets catch on.
Extra roosters tho, are gone before trouble starts.

 

[Zan]

I cull and use my old hens. I try to rotate every couple of years to keep egg production high. I use leg bands in different colors to keep track of how old my hens are. Broodies and my daughters pets get a free pass.

 

[Severne]

I keep my hens regardless of egg production.
My chickens free range and i believe the older seasoned hens teach the younger ones how to better survive by example.
I had a hen as old as 8 years that died of natural causes. I kept her in a large dog kennel her last winter as her arthritis made her limp and her eyes had cataracts and she had trouble navigating to food and water. Stripey was the name given to her when she hatched by my daughter when she was about 9 years old.
my oldest hen i have now is about 6 years old. Everest is her name. She is first in the coop to roost in the evening, and not a far ranger into risky areas during the day. I hope the pullets catch on.
Extra roosters tho, are gone before trouble starts.

I would have put that poor hen out of its misery.

 

[Severne]

@Zan I agree, Broodies shouldnt be eaten in my eyes.

 

[Painted Calls]

Mine are all pets first, baking supply machines second.

I have absolutely no problem with anyone that puts old non-laying hens in their freezer. I just personally don't. It's all I can do not to name any of the steers out here. DH prays for bull calves. I pray for heifers.

 

[AngieDawn]

My birds are for food, eggs and meat.
I hatch new layers every year.
Extra cockerels and older hens go into the freezer.

Not that I don't enjoy their presence as pets of sorts,
and take very good care of them,
but bottom line it's about my food and how it's raised and harvested.

Agreed
While I have never eaten mine because generally speaking I’m too lazy to bother to learn, I feel like my chickens have a much better life then the chickens in the store so I would not feel guilty eating them.
If I were to undertake that I would try to get some good training as it’s not the sort of thing I would want to just wing.
I would want to be as respectful (quick and stress free as possible) to my birds and that only would happen with good training from an expert.

 

[aart]

If I were to undertake that I would try to get some good training as it’s not the sort of thing I would want to just wing.

I spent a good 4 months reading, watching videos, taking notes, and gathering equipment.
Still took a few batches to get good at it.

 

[NatJ]

If I were to undertake that I would try to get some good training as it’s not the sort of thing I would want to just wing.
I would want to be as respectful (quick and stress free as possible) to my birds

The only thing you really have to get right is the actual killing. Once they are dead, you cannot hurt them, no matter what you do. Especially when I was learning, I found that comforting to remember, as I muddled through the processing.