What do you do when your chickens are old???

[olijo123]

What do you do when your chickens are older and done laying? I have had chickens for five years now and some of them are up there in age and some have been passing away. Not all my chickens are older because I have bought some this past spring. I have heard some people try to sell them or eat them, but I just cant do that!! I would rather my chickens live out the rest of their lives in retirement at home. Then maybe in a year or two I would restock my flock a little. But what do you do when your chickens have stopped laying and are older?

 

[enola]

Eat them or sell them to someone who eats them.

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

It's up to you if you want to continue feeding them, as pets.

 

[olijo123]

Eat them or sell them to someone who eats them.

Yeah I have considered that! But I wouldn't be able to do it knowing that the chickens I raised from chicks would be eaten! Thanks for your advice!

 

[olijo123]

It's up to you if you want to continue feeding them, as pets.

Yes, most likely I will just continue to feed them as pets then maybe in a year or two I will probably restock my flock. Thanks!

 

[Ridgerunner]

We all have different goals and reasons for having chickens. Mine is more for meat than the eggs, so you can guess what I do. There is no right or wrong about it, purely personal choice. Do what you are comfortable doing.

 

[olijo123]

We all have different goals and reasons for having chickens. Mine is more for meat than the eggs, so you can guess what I do. There is no right or wrong about it, purely personal choice. Do what you are comfortable doing.

Thank you! I will probably end up letting them live their lives out at home.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

I am sure that a couple of my girls will get free rides into old age, but for the most part I will butcher my laying hens after 3 years, probably 2 for the production hens. I don't see the point in feeding out a bird that I have no contact/need for. Like I tell my kids, we care for them until they can care for us!

 

[ChickenCurt]

For many it's hard to raise things for the butcher block, and it should be hard, personally, if anyone can kill without conscience then they shouldn't be allowed to kill. We should give thanks for the sacrifice that most take for granted and merely call dinner.