What do you do with a hen who is done laying?

[jacyjones]

Quote:
I think that is sentimentalising the issue. We have limited space in our shed and we need the birds to be productive. We also have only 2 acres of land and so cannot support too many free ranging either. I am not keen on culling but it not just my decision and my hubby is harder hearted than me. We cannot run a retirement home and our oldest bird is about 7 so I reckon she has had a good innings and much better than alot of our birds in the past.
I will definitely try the marinating and slow cooking tho', Mahroni.

 

[gryeyes]

Quote:
I would not want to push guilt on anybody, but long before I got my chickens, I knew I would be getting them for these reasons in this order: #1 - Free fertilizer for my garden, #2 - Bug catchers. #3 - Oh, and eggs - what a bonus!

I ALSO knew I would name them, that they'd be pets. Then I got my first few chickens and discovered I needed to re-order the priority with a new #1: Stress Relief and pure pleasure of watching Chicken TV.

Meat was never in the priority list.

I absolutely know I'll be running an Elderly Hens Retirement Home someday. My chickens will still provide stress relief and pleasure, free fertilizer, and be able to keep the bug population down in my yard, even when they no longer lay eggs. And the rooster(s) don't ever lay eggs, but they provide the other priorities for me.

The Olmstead Homestead is (or will be) the Sunset Resort for Mature Poultry Personages - (gotta include the ducks!)

 

[chickenlady08]

I plan on keeping ALL of my hens regardless of laying egg status. Just because they stop laying doesnt mean they have to be eaten. Sorry, but I am DEAD against eating them. They have giving use there wonderful eggs for periods of time and we reward them by eating them. NO WAY!!!!

 

[GAchick]

Stew...

 

[mmaddie's mom]

Every one of us on here is coming from a little (or not so little

) direction... from single pet to egg/meat production birds. There is no "right" answer... it's what works for you and your family. The thing I think we do all have in common is to give our birds the best possible life while we do have them... that's why we are here.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[wsdareme]

Quote:
I would not want to push guilt on anybody, but long before I got my chickens, I knew I would be getting them for these reasons in this order: #1 - Free fertilizer for my garden, #2 - Bug catchers. #3 - Oh, and eggs - what a bonus!

I ALSO knew I would name them, that they'd be pets. Then I got my first few chickens and discovered I needed to re-order the priority with a new #1: Stress Relief and pure pleasure of watching Chicken TV.

Meat was never in the priority list.

I absolutely know I'll be running an Elderly Hens Retirement Home someday. My chickens will still provide stress relief and pleasure, free fertilizer, and be able to keep the bug population down in my yard, even when they no longer lay eggs. And the rooster(s) don't ever lay eggs, but they provide the other priorities for me.

The Olmstead Homestead is (or will be) the Sunset Resort for Mature Poultry Personages - (gotta include the ducks!)

gryeyes -- I am SO on the same page as you! I love chicken, but I don't want to eat MY chickens. They all have names, they are wonderful entertainment. Eggs are a bonus. I will also have a Retirement Home for Aged Hens...

 

[puredelite]

I totally agree with mmaddie's mom, that decision is best left to the individual. As for myself, with the high cost of feed there is no room here for "free-loaders" chickens or any other livestock. When my sheep get too old to produce twins every year they go to the sale barn. Once hens are no longer productive they are flavorful in soup, stews, etc. Also what to do with all the young roosters that appear in every hatch ( seems like sometimes they are the majority) They taste so much better than grocery store fryers and at least I know what they have been fed. Just my two-cents worth, it is what works for us! I love my chickens and other livestock but I don't overlook the fact that they are just animals...

 

[Organics North]

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I always like Beekissed's thinking... Good ole country logic..

Here is my opinion on the subject:
Well unless you are Vegan and do not eat or use any animal products what so ever, I feel it is ones responsibility to do the deed. Even if one is vegetarian and has a leather belt or shoe or animal fat in a soap. Some one some where has to do the deed. Yes, one can keep feeding the chicken to the end of its life if they want, one can keep that cow or goat after it gives no more milk. BUT if you are going out and buying milk or meat, I feel the responsible thing to do is to harvest your own, and logically that is excess roosters, and hens past their prime. (For me that is way way past their prime.)

I personally strongly dislike killing, it goes completely against my spirituality. It actually darkens my day and dulls my senses. It is a sacrifice in the level of personal enlightenment I can obtain. However I am an omnivore, so it is my responsibility to carry the burden of killing.
This fall blood will be spilled. A dozen excess cockerels, several wild deer and many many fish will die to sustain our family through the winter. It is my opinion if the burden of killing is too great one should become Vegan and NOT raise animals. I may just do that one day or maybe not?

Be Well
ON

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Our chickens are for:

1. Fun and enjoyment! Pets! Company when I'm outside. I could stare at them for hours. They are beautiful.
2. Free fertilizer (yes I went and had a truckload delivered before chickens. And that was $200- I thought I could cry.)
3. Eggs, yes we'll eat the eggs.
4. Did I mention fun to watch? Just as fun as watching songbirds.
5. Oh and they snuggle right up and love to be cozy with my arms as a cradle. They are my BABIES.
6. I won't even notice when one stops laying probably. I have 94.
7. I bought my chickens with the thought that I will be with them their whole lives. But I have given away roosters. And might give away more.

 

[MakNugget]

Quote:
YOU MUST DO IT! EAT HER EAT HER EAT HER!

LOL. It's not that clear cut where one is REQUIRED/OBLIGATED to consume the hen post productivity. It's just one of three options that every chicken keeper needs to be prepared to decide upon.

1 - keep around
2 - keep and (eventually) consume
3 - give it away

For those who are limited in the number they can keep, it becomes even more of an issue. I can only keep 3 at a time, but if I lived further out which would allow more chickens, I would quite certainly keep my old ladies around much longer.
Both 1 and 2 are comforting options because the outcome is controllable by the owner. 3 is completely out of your hands. For some, this won't bother them (cant be hurt by what you dont know) but for others it can be troublesome. What and how things can happen to the chickens is no longer up to you. I'm not sure if I could deal with option 3.

If I were to exercise option 2, I would probably take it to a meat processor and have them prepare it. I found a place in Idaho that you can watch the whole process if preferrred. I would rather find somewhere closer thoughI just don't think I can trouble renting and setting up equipment for just two birds. Ive fabricated countless dead chickens but none fresh, so doing it myself isnt totally out, just not likely There is still an out with this option since if I "chicken" out after processing, I can give the meat away to friends if need be.

So yeah, 2-4 years down the road I may start missing the egg count being limited to 3 birds, and I'll need to come to some kind of decision at that time.