What age to "retire" laying hens?

[dancingbear]

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That's when they molt. It's a normal, yearly event.

 

[Kim_NC]

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I use colored zip ties to identify them. That allows me to tell who's on the nests. I visit the coops 4 times daily when I'm serious about figuring out who is laying. I also confine them individually to cages or tractors for a week if I have doubts or am not sure about a poor layer.

 

[dancingbear]

Once more, what the heck is dairy texture?

 

[ChickenWisperer]

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Yes, I have several hens that are at least 6-7 years old, who still lay around 5 eggs a week. That's good enough for me to keep them in feed. In fact, my eggs sales pay for feed for both the layers and the extra roos that I raise for meat.

What's Dairy Texture? I've never heard of it. I'm wondering if it's something I may want to add to my hens' layer ration.

Mine free range, so they get lots of greens and bugs. I've never had one survive past maybe 8 or 9 years, they get slower and meet with misadventure at some point. I had an old red hen of unknown breed, probably RIR or NHR, she died on the nest box laying an egg when she was about 8 or 9. She was laying at least 5 extra large, dark brown eggs a week, when she died. I knew for sure because she'd started going to the barn every day to lay her eggs, instead of the coop like the others. She had her own spot there, I went and checked for her egg everyday. One day she was dead on the nest.

I understand when people replace layers due to costs, but I also think many jump the gun and think the hens are finished, when they've just hit a temporary slow down. Mine go through cycles, depending on season, weather, molting, etc. You could be getting rid of your layers, just before they hit their peak production in both size and quantity. Unless you have a big commercial operation, it's not generally going to make or break you to wait a couple of months and see what happens.

I'm not sure what dairy texture is, but I know some of the family friends use Hog Feed - just straight out, not supplemented.

 

[IggiMom]

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I use colored zip ties to identify them. That allows me to tell who's on the nests. I visit the coops 4 times daily when I'm serious about figuring out who is laying. I also confine them individually to cages or tractors for a week if I have doubts or am not sure about a poor layer.

Oh, ok, thanks. I often wish I had a way to know who is laying the eggs, and I never thought of identifying them with a twisty.

Catherine

 

[Kim_NC]

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I use colored zip ties to identify them. That allows me to tell who's on the nests. I visit the coops 4 times daily when I'm serious about figuring out who is laying. I also confine them individually to cages or tractors for a week if I have doubts or am not sure about a poor layer.

Oh, ok, thanks. I often wish I had a way to know who is laying the eggs, and I never thought of identifying them with a twisty.

Catherine

Catherine, Not twisties (like bread bags have), but zip ties - often used to tie tigether computer cable, electric cords, etc. Here's a pic.

Lowes, Staples, Best Buy, etc have them in packages with multiple colors.

When you attach them, hold a standard pencil against the bird's leg. Close the tie around the leg and pencil. Then snip it off as short as possible so that the bird cannot get ahold of the tab to pull on it. Remove the pencil. (Pencil helps to space a comfortable fit.)

I usually do them at night when the girls are on the roost and 'groggy'.

 

[IggiMom]

Thanks so much! I did misunderstand what you were saying. But now it is clear.

I guess I will go to Office Depot and get some of those.

Catherine