retiring non-laying hens

[chickensrcool2]

I am a backyard chicken farmer of 5 years. We always had regular (unfortunately) attrition due to various neighbors' dogs (our girls free-ranged) and every year added some new chicks. Finally we fenced our 2 1/2 acres and got our own 2 wonderful livestock guardian dogs and have not lost any more hens except from natural causes. Our dogs keep out skunks, raccoons, and the lurking fox. The hawks have never got a hen. We are now at 30 hens with about 5-7 eggs per day! I admit I am a weenie. I buy my chicken at the store but do not want to eat my older non-laying hens. At this point I am not sure which ones are or aren't laying. I know my 6 new girls will start laying any day. Are there others like me? Am I going to someday feed 100 pet hens and have zero eggs? I love my fresh eggs. I also love my girls. What do other weenies do?

Are there some farms that take retired hens? I'm looking for ideas although I do know the options.

 

[kayceb]

Perhaps "re homing" them would help? Let someone else decide their fate. Im sure there are people in your Area that might be willing to buy or trade you for the ones ready to "retire".

 

[junebuggena]

How sure are you that there are no hidden nests? Could be one reason you aren't finding many eggs. It's also the beginning of molting season, so that might also be something to consider.

 

[Folly's place]

I found eighteen (!!!) eggs in a new spot yesterday; it's a neverending problem with free ranging hens! I keep some of my hens forever, and move some on when they are one, two, or three years of age. It depends. Older birds stay here, and by then there aren't that many. I get some chicks every year, and that's when I decide who stays and who leaves. You need to have a plan, and be happy with your decisions. Mary

 

[Latitude33]

Only two months in and I can relate to this. Locally, there is an organization called The Gentle Barn that relocates non laying hens in petting zoos and other locations for education purposes. For health reasons i don't eat meat, poultry or pork. Doc says eggs in moderation are ok but otherwise no animal fat. The Handyman I use is willing to trade services in exchange for "adopting" my girls when they stop laying. The other option I am working on is trying to convince local Community Gardens to consider letting the retirees free range as pest management specialists.

 

[Folly's place]

'Retirement' might also include feeding a family, which is not a bad thing, IMO. It may not sound so nice, but that's part of flock management too. Mary

 

[Latitude33]

Retirement' might also include feeding a family, which is not a bad thing, IMO.

Very true. A lot of "Food Insecurity" issues could easily be solved if we just take a common sense approach. Just my two cents.

 

[chickensrcool2]

I am a backyard chicken farmer of 5 years. We always had regular (unfortunately) attrition due to various neighbors' dogs (our girls free-ranged) and every year added some new chicks. Finally we fenced our 2 1/2 acres and got our own 2 wonderful livestock guardian dogs and have not lost any more hens except from natural causes. Our dogs keep out skunks, raccoons, and the lurking fox. The hawks have never got a hen. We are now at 30 hens with about 5-7 eggs per day! I admit I am a weenie. I buy my chicken at the store but do not want to eat my older non-laying hens. At this point I am not sure which ones are or aren't laying. I know my 6 new girls will start laying any day. Are there others like me? Am I going to someday feed 100 pet hens and have zero eggs? I love my fresh eggs. I also love my girls. What do other weenies do?

Are there some farms that take retired hens? I'm looking for ideas although I do know the options.

Thanks for the reply!

 

[chickensrcool2]

Only two months in and I can relate to this. Locally, there is an organization called The Gentle Barn that relocates non laying hens in petting zoos and other locations for education purposes. For health reasons i don't eat meat, poultry or pork. Doc says eggs in moderation are ok but otherwise no animal fat. The Handyman I use is willing to trade services in exchange for "adopting" my girls when they stop laying. The other option I am working on is trying to convince local Community Gardens to consider letting the retirees free range as pest management specialists.

We have community gardens too.l Nice idea. Of course in the winter someone has to take care of them outside the garden situation!

 

[chickensrcool2]

I found eighteen (!!!) eggs in a new spot yesterday; it's a neverending problem with free ranging hens! I keep some of my hens forever, and move some on when they are one, two, or three years of age. It depends. Older birds stay here, and by then there aren't that many. I get some chicks every year, and that's when I decide who stays and who leaves. You need to have a plan, and be happy with your decisions. Mary

Where do you 'move them on' to ? Eat them? That is logical but I haven't gotten there. I do not think my girls lay all over. Until recently we kept them in until noon. We kept tabs on them and they returned to the coop all day long to lay and then free range again. Some lay early some late. I know it's molting season. But some of my girls are 3, some 4 years old. My original flock from 5 years ago is no longer around.