What do I do with 4 Barred Rocks who are done laying eggs?

[ChickenWhisperer101]

You don't have room to keep them, I expect you will have no luck rehoming them at those ages, at least in the soup pot you get some final use of them without having to stare at them on a dinner table. But ultimately, your birds, your choice.

DO **NOT** simply take them to the woods somewhere and toss them out of your vehicle (I'm honestly surprised we've not seen that suggestion yet, it frequently makes appearance in threads of this sort). Its irresponsible, at best - a way foisting one's problems off on others and avoiding the consequences of one's choices. Nor is it good for the birds. I thank you in advance for not doing that.

Why would someone do that!?! That’s cruel to the bird as they have never been without a human.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Why would someone do that!?! That’s cruel to the bird as they have never been without a human.

I assume you meant that query rhetorically, and are uninterested in my musings on the nature of human behavior. Still, the fact remains, its a frequent suggestion in "rehoming/extra cockerel" threads by some who seemingly believe its a morally superior practice to culling.

For my part, I'm fond of a quote I read 40 years ago...

When the need arises, and it does, you must be able to shoot your own dog. Don't farm it out - that doesn't make it nicer, it makes it worse. ~Robert A. Heinlein

Same is true for your chickens.

 

[ChickenWhisperer101]

I assume you meant that query rhetorically, and are uninterested in my musings on the nature of human behavior. Still, the fact remains, its a frequent suggestion in "rehoming/extra cockerel" threads by some who seemingly believe its morally superior to culling.

I do agree with you.

 

[Brooks_]

There may be some who would like older hens for lawn ornaments and it's worth trying. Ultimately tho, you're likely looking at the stock pot.

 

[Ribh]

I understand the no room thing but I think I would relook @ my keeping practises. Older hens are not only wonderful companions they are extremely useful when you have younger birds. They are still alive because they are smart, predator savvy, good foragers & know how to look out for the flock as a whole, where the best cover is, the best food, the safest paths from place to place & the best bolt holes when danger arises. This is all information that older hens are able to pass on to youngsters ensuring the best outcome for survival & that each generation is just that little bit smarter than the preceding ones. Just because they are not laying doesn't mean they are not contributing to the flock.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I understand the no room thing but I think I would relook @ my keeping practises. Older hens are not only wonderful companions they are extremely useful when you have younger birds. They are still alive because they are smart, predator savvy, good foragers & know how to look out for the flock as a whole, where the best cover is, the best food, the safest paths from place to place & the best bolt holes when danger arises. This is all information that older hens are able to pass on to youngsters ensuring the best outcome for survival & that each generation is just that little bit smarter than the preceding ones. Just because they are not laying doesn't mean they are not contributing to the flock.

Truer for some flocks (those that free range) than others (the great majority of small flock cage/run kept backyard birds in the US). Also, I love the quote in your signature. Well chosen.

 

[Ribh]

Truer for some flocks (those that free range) than others (the great majority of small flock cage/run kept backyard birds in the US). Also, I love the quote in your signature. Well chosen.

Even a small backyard can have its dangers. Thank you. I love Lord Peter.

 

[3KillerBs]

This is one of the hard parts about raising chickens. At some point you have to face the fact that you're feeding freeloaders who no longer give you eggs and decide if that situation is something you're willing to continue with for a number of years.

Just as very few people are willing to give the extra cockerels from a straight run batch a forever pet home, very few people are willing to take on unproductive older hens. If you're not willing to feed them without getting any eggs out of them it's not reasonable to expect someone else to feed them without getting any eggs out of them.

Retired layers make extraordinarily good stock and thus contribute one final time to your family's welfare. Next to the dumplings is the natural resting place for an older chicken -- there is nothing more amazingly chicken-y.

Unlike @U_Stormcrow, I plucked my retired hens when I processed them. Hand-plucking was nowhere near as difficult as I had been told and I did it because I wanted the flavor and fat from the skin in my stock.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

[...]

Retired layers make extraordinarily good stock and thus contribute one final time to your family's welfare. Next to the dumplings is the natural resting place for an older chicken -- there is nothing more amazingly chicken-y.

Unlike @U_Stormcrow, I plucked my retired hens when I processed them. Hand-plucking was nowhere near as difficult as I had been told and I did it because I wanted the flavor and fat from the skin in my stock.

I admit, I'm fonder of sausage for older birds, then use the carcass for stock, and thus my disrobing recommend, but the skin does have a tremendous amount of connective tissue to gelatinize for stock, and if you should slightly over-scald and rip the skin? Well, it wasn't being presented on the table anyways...

 

[McChooky]

I understand the no room thing but I think I would relook @ my keeping practises. Older hens are not only wonderful companions they are extremely useful when you have younger birds. They are still alive because they are smart, predator savvy, good foragers & know how to look out for the flock as a whole, where the best cover is, the best food, the safest paths from place to place & the best bolt holes when danger arises. This is all information that older hens are able to pass on to youngsters ensuring the best outcome for survival & that each generation is just that little bit smarter than the preceding ones. Just because they are not laying doesn't mean they are not contributing to the flock.

This reminds me of a story about a dog breeder who said keeping the sire of the puppies with the puppies made them smarter dogs.