Should I COOK her? Need your thoughts.......

[chickenlickin8]

I have a RIR hen that is now 8 months old and she still is not laying. She gets in the nest and pretends but then NOTHING! Shouldn't she be laying by now? I have younger hens laying already. I am thinking about either getting rid of this free loader or cooking her for dinner. Thoughts welcome......

 

[gumpsgirl]

Really that all depends on how you feel about it. If it was grandma, she'd say cook her! I think it just depends on how you feel.

 

[M@M@2four]

I know one of my hens was a laid late--9 months, but when she started laying, it was crazy! She was laying every day!!! Are you sure she's not eating her eggs or stashing them. We has a couple hens that we thought weren't laying and then ended up finding a jack pot up in the rafters---over 20 eggs!!! lol

 

[PeeperKeeper]

Yep! I agree with gumpsgirl. It just depends on how you feel about it. the term "free loader" doesn't sound too positive for the hen.

 

[chickenlickin8]

I know she is not hiding eggs because they are in a coop 24/7 and she's not eating eggs because all of the other hens lay and I gather between 5-7 eggs from the nest boxes daily.

I feel bad being that I raised her from a chick but I got them for egg production and she is not pulling her weight thus far! She needs to get laying or into the POT she goes!

 

[PotterWatch]

I've given my girls a time limit. Anyone not laying by 8 months gets to make good friends with some dumplings. Like you, I have them to lay eggs and can't afford to feed a "pet" chicken.

 

[LocoPollo]

I don't do pet chickens either. It's put up or cook up!

 

[ginasmarans]

o.k. I'm going to buck the trend. If you ar sure she is a she(RIR can be tricky),I'd give her more time. Mine have started laying at a later age this year. Sometimes it takes longer,especially if the daylight hours dropped right around 6 months of age. She might wait until Spring.

 

[M@M@2four]

Quote:
I agree!!! Or sell her! I make $15/hen around here. I have had plenty of people buy my hens before they laid and still paid $15. Just a thought!

 

[debilorrah]

I would give her more time too, but then again, I am a softie. I have heard of hens starting to lay as late as 12 months old.