I know a chicken stop consistently laying eggs after about 2 years of age and I was wondering, how much they will be laying weekly and if I should keep them around the yard for a weeder then they get old. Does an older hen run into any different health problems and would the they still brood chicks?
My older hens seemed to lay 3-4 eggs a week, this was averaging based on number of hens/eggs at 3-7 years of age. They usually didn't lay at all during the winter, this was spring-fall only. It's a very individual question to keep older, less productive birds. Some folks here rehome them, some eat them, some keep them as forever pets. It's just up to you, what you want, your set-up (how many birds can you manage with coop/run space) and how much you want to spend on feed.
I have been wondering this as well. I was also wondering how long they tend to live when kept as "pets". I adore my feathered friends and the eggs are only secondary to the enjoyment I get from keeping them.
When mine get old, they often get crabby and kind of stiff. If your chickens lay different colors of eggs it is easy to keep track of how many. I have two leghorns that have about quit. Mrs K
