What did you do with your old hens that no longer lay eggs?

[fishnet1971]

you send them over to me here in Ohio and i spoil the stuffin out of them until they die.

 

[Kittyf]

I don't know.

I won't have to face this dilemma for a while. We love our 4 hens and they are pets as well as a wonderful source of eggs.
If we no longer care about the eggs, perhaps we'll keep them as pets as long as we can.

But I really don't know what will happen in the mean time. All I can do is make sure they will enjoy a good life until the end, whatever that may be.

 

[bj taylor]

i'm new to this and my first birds are one week old. i think i will process them when the time comes. i'm working toward being more sustainable in my living practices and i would rather consume animals that i know had quality of life rather than live their existence in a factory environment.

 

[thatbethchick]

I process my birds and it is kind of hard. I boo hooed the first time. But my chicken's lives were so much better than factory birds'.

I can't believe how much I love these chickens. Their life habits and personalities are a joy to watch. Since they work for me, (providing me eggs, labor in the compost department, enjoyment...) I feel better now taking responsibility for thier end, too. My flock(s) keep getting bigger. I can't afford to keep weaker birds, possibly risking the others.

Now I also raise meat birds. Oh my gosh that is hard too. But these are healthy, comfortable (and hopefully contented) birds while they live. Now that I know how the store bought bird might have been treated, it's hard to support the industry. I'm sure there's lots of good people in it... I just prefer to bite the bullet and do it myself now.

 

[v.cyr]

we proccess our own birds when the time comes... it isn't an enjoyable task, since you cant help but grow a little attached to them, but I wouldn't ask anyone else to swing the ax for me...I was raised on a farm, and to me it is just one of the things you do...

 

[kuntrygirl]

Once my birds stop laying they will live the remainder of their live's with me as pets. 

Same here.

 

[fishnet1971]

we proccess our own birds when the time comes... it isn't an enjoyable task, since you cant help but grow a little attached to them, but I wouldn't ask anyone else to swing the ax for me...I was raised on a farm, and to me it is just one of the things you do...

yea, i hear ya on that too. I grew up processing them as well with my mom. I still can't bring it on myself to do my owna after 40 years. After I name them and they get attached to me as well, I just can't do it. Tried, but can't. I don't blame or look bad on anyone who does either. You can not gurantee where your meat comes from at the grocery. You can on your own. There is no right or wrong answer, you just do what you feel is right in your gut.

 

[Hyline]

My girls are like children to me, I could not care less about eggs, I don't eat them anyway! I could NEVER eat any chicken let alone one of my own

they are intelligent, affectionate, dear little creatures. They have a home here with us forever, could not imagine life without my gorgeous girls.

 

[foxinachickenhouse]

We are currently trying to work it out with fellow chicken keepers that when the time comes they will process ours and we will process theirs. That way, it doesn't hit so close to home. Otherwise when they are still laying but tapering off (< 3 years) we give them to a local farmer who only uses them for hatching chicks and doesn't care about heavy production, just quality hens for his business.

 

[Sally8]

Just wanted to comment that the key is to NOT name them. Getting rid of them will be much easier that way. My 3 yr old grandson named all 11 of them Sally and are now down to 7. These are our first also. Their home will be permanent. Hopefully, we'll just call the ones to come, here chick, chick, chick. Lol