What do you do with a chicken that doesn't lay well anymore?

[skylavaulter]

We are raising chickens for eggs - never really thought about what to do with the layers that are past their prime in the egg-laying department. I mean how long does a full size chicken live? How often will we need to replace hens (every 2 years?) We don't have space for more chickens, so.....

 

[enola]

I replace my hens after their second laying season is over.

Some chickens will live 10 years.

 

[LRH97]

Chickens can easily live up to 8-10 years if properly looked after, sometimes even more. One of my friend's Anconas lived for 12 years, I believe. I usually sell my older hens as stew birds, or they wind up in the dumpling pot after about three or four years. It's usually well past their prime laying age, but I'm in it for the enjoyment of the birds more than the production.

 

[Folly's place]

You have choices, and can make different decisions for different birds. Special pets can stay forever, really productive birds could reproduce their superior genetics in your flock, and/or many birds can go in your freezer, or be sold and move on. Commercial facilities move all hens on at one or nearly two years of age; it's about economics for them. Mary