Poll: Statistics on the fate of "spent" layers

[cary 1973]

I do have to add even if there only pets and will not be eaten you do need a plan for when the time comes and there sick for me if there not suffering and in pain I will let nature take its course and try and give them the most loving peaceful exit I can. how ever if there suffering and in pain my uncle has agreed to do the deed for me in the most respect way possible. I did talk to my vet about the method of putting them to sleep and found out that is not a very easy thing to do with birds or rats. So you should have some kind of plan for the need arises.

 

[deborahca]

I know that avian vets can perform euthanasia for pet birds, but I don't know yet if I'd go there for my chickens or not... I can't afford, financially or emotionally, to treat them identically to my "indoor birds" who are truly pets (and scary smart to boot).

 

[roostersandhens]

I would never kill my "spent" hens. I really really don't understand why chickens have to have a "purpose". Do you have to have a purpose, and if you lose your purpose, why aren't you killed. For example: Say your a incredible athlete, then you grow to old, and can no longer do the things you use to, so your killed, that is the sad world a chicken must live in, awful huh?

 

[cbascom]

We are in the process of greatly increasing our chicken numbers and will be including meat birds and selling eggs. Sooo, I am faced with the reality of having to cull non productive layers. I have two older hens that I have had for 2 years, and neither one has ever laid an egg. So we will be processing them soon to make room for our expanding program. We currently only have 4 hens and a rooster. They have names, but are not really pets. They are livestock I am fond of. But the reality is that if chickens live 10 yrs and only lay for 2 or 3, then soon my chicken operation will be mostly a retirement village, unless I am willing to cull. I don't want to just kill and waste them, that seems like a bigger shame.

 

[StruckBy]

If you eat meat at all, it has always seemed much more humane to me to either raise your own or hunt...at least that way I can control not just the quality of life but also the humaneness of death. I personally have a much bigger issue with people NOT killing animals that are suffering (a debate I'm personally going back & forth on with my vet on my pony...he wants me to give her another 8 weeks & every day I regret agreeing to it more) or keeping too many animals in too small a space. I did actually vote 'live out their lives' but since I'm careful on the breeds I get, free-range year-round, & have been lucky, my hens typically keep up 4-5 eggs per week until near the end of their natural span. Anything that turns out to be a rooster & wakes me up dies that weekend (if they sleep in & are friendly I don't mind having them around just for scenery).

 

[aardi]

Our chickens are pets who pay rent (rent being eggs). That being said, they still are pets, we wouldn't eat them. In fact we have a polish hen who becomes egg bound and I would be happy if she never laid another egg (she's our top hen). They bring a lot of joy to our lives and keep the bugs and weeds in check.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

The one thing no one is addressing is that each and every chicken will eventually die and not one of us have the power to prevent or to change that reality. Whether that lost life is wasted or it benefits another living organism is each chicken keepers decision to make.

 

[GarthRyan]

I haven't even considered this yet.. My chickens aren't even a year old yet but I'm thinking when eggs (profit since we don't eat eggs often, got chickens for fun mainly) stop, I'll probably start free ranging them. Right now I don't free range because of predators and fear of chickens not returning to the roost. But when they're older and quit laying and death is naturally a couple years away then I could stand losing one to nature.

Like someone previously stated, there is no right or wrong answer, this is completely an opinion.

Happy chickening to all.

 

[Alaskan]

How many people have pets and non-pets in the same flock? It didn't occur to me that that was a likely scenario. I probably can't use much more than a dozen eggs a week anyway, so I'm not looking for a high rate of production... if hens are still laying an egg a week, I think I'd consider them productive -- for those that cull, at what rate of production do you cull?

I'd love to see more statistics here... with the small numbers it looks very bimodal.

I have both pets and non-pets in the same flock.

The kids get to keep a few chickens just for pets. One of my sons likes bantams. I have a few d'Uccles for him. They are little bantams and horrid layers, but as long as they snuggle him and he likes playing with them, we will keep them. He also really likes the way they look.

All the kids understand that we eat chickens. If a rooster gets mean, the kids are the first to say, "we need to eat that one!"

A really good broody would get to live as long as possible, as long as she remained a good broody.

The laying flock get butchered and eaten at one and a half to three years of age, depending on performance.

I expect 3 eggs per week minimum during the peak laying season.

 

[lazy gardener]

Alaskan, did you ever get your rose combed leghorns? and if so, how have they performed in your mixed flock?

Deborahca: In response to your question: All 5 of my chickens are pets. I thoroughly enjoy them, they all have names, and distinct personalities. However, when they cross the threshold of not being productive, or if their behavior or any other issues make them not functional in my flock, they become dinner. Once a chicken's head is off, at least for me, I am thankful for a home raised meal free from all the concerns that come from eating the cellophane packaged products. I also consider, again, this is just me talking, that as a chicken owner, it's good stewardship to utilize all of the products they produce: eggs and meat, as well as reap the benefits of their tilling abilities and bug and weed control.