The dear old thing

[GrannySue]

I have a standard ISA Brown who ceased laying eggs last summer. I know she's done but I only cull old girls that are sick. Otherwise I've promised them an easy life once they've retired.
Every morning she goes into a nest box and sits.
Others come in and lay their eggs beside her.
Sometimes she sits on the eggs for a short time, maybe an hour or so.

I just went into the henhouse to collect eggs and there she was, all alone in a nest. 2 eggs in another nest, nothing under her.
I took the 2 eggs away.
She ignored me, as usual.
About 5 minutes later I heard the egg song.
Very proud of herself! Clucked away, telling everyone about her (imaginary) egg.
The she hopped off the nest and ran out into the yard to get some food after her hard, hard work.

Dear old thing.

 

[peggym]

I have one elderly hen too! She's 7 yrs. old. She sets and once in a great while she will lay, but the egg is usually shell less or so thin shelled it breaks when I pick it up. She's the last one of my original girls so she's earned her spot in the coop. Also she's at the top of the pecking chain, and she also does not tolerate the Roos, going so far as to chasing them away when they approach her!!!!!

 

[Eggs4Sale]

Awwwwww! How sweet!

 

[Kittymomma]

 

[NGT ANGL]

What a sweet story and a wonderful you for providing such a wonderful retirement for the old gal!

 

[gryeyes]

As I build my newest coop, which I plan on naming "Chez Poulet," I am aware I may eventually need to change its name when my flock ages, because I'm not culling any bird too old to lay.

The Elderly Hen House? *lightning flash of old memory!* The Home of Old Biddies!

Just teasing. But I really didn't get chickens FOR the eggs; that was the excuse I used when people asked me why I was getting chickens. I just love to watch 'em and care for 'em. The eggs they produce are a bonus.

 

[leenie]

Great story and so happy you shared. Too cute to think she wants those young things to think she still has it!

 

[ellieroo]

I too have an old hen but she earned her place yesterday in a non laying manner. Somehow (perhaps horse aided) the chickens pen door was opened in the night and at 630am not a chicken in site save my old hen who lives in the barn. She and I looked all over no chickens ?? We "talked" about it then I headed back to the house.Hours later off the open range comes this train of chickens with the old hen in the lead!! She had gone out and found her friends and brought them home and that is worth eggs a day anytime!