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

[3rocksandme]

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?

I think you might be my husband's hero.​

 

[kathydoolittle]

I say "TO each there own"

We started getting chickens in 2009, when we ordered them we got half for eggs and half for meat. I was having chemo at the time. And wanted a better meat then you can get from the store. When it came time to butcher the half we got for meat my husband would not. I was to weak from chemo to do it myself. I am getting better now and want to start raising some babies and yes some of them will be for meat. But I would rather know what they where feed and how they where raise. This way I know they are not giving any crap (chemicals). And are better for our health. We have 50 plus chickens now, and to be honest I can't tell you which one's lay and which ones do not. So they will probably never butch those, but I will start butchering new ones when we want to have chicken. Just a few for eating. The funny thing is my husband told me when we got them, do not get attached to them. And he is the one that can't handle it. The rest I will sale or give to the needy. But that is my choice, as it is everyone's own choice. As it is everyone's own choice what to do.

 

[AlaskGirl]

Friends would tout that I'm too sentimental but in truth I don't name my chickens and value eggs more than anything so I firmly hope with all conviction that I can learn how to butcher and then eat my birds! I cannot afford it any other way and none of these chickens are my pets.

 

[TC_BokBok]

Everyone has some great comments and I support each person's right and decision to do with their flock as they must in situations like this. As for me and my wife... this picture pretty much sums it up.

 

[mcostas]

Quote:
That's why you marinate and then slow cook in a crock pot.

You can also pressure cook/can tough animals. I can vension and wild hog meat in my pressure canner and it always turns out wonderful!



I have wondered the same thing. I just got my little chicks, I can't imagine eating them! I am a hunter and have assisted my father in butchering the rabbits we raised in the past so it's not like I am unrealistic about the facts of life.

I think when they get old and I need to add productive chickens to my flock, I will have to cull the old ones to make way. My chickens will have lived a much better life than the ones raised for market, just like the deer I kill live a higher quality life. It is only right to make way for another chicken to have the same opportunity.

That's what I am going to tell myself when it comes time. On the postive side, a chicken is infinately easier to butcher than a rabbit!

 

[Tiniest Animal]

build a hen retirement home or something. Ha ha that's tight!!!!!!! I would make them free range and if something happens then case solved. At least you will have less bug in your yard or you might give them to someone that wants chickens that does not care about getting eggs. I would take them for free range.

 

[super roo]

We let our older hens that out live the egg laying part of their life run with the flock, free range & keep bugs at a min. around the house. No special retirement plan, but after all those eggs, I figure they got it coming.

 

[squiqwe]

Quote:

For those of us who make or chickens our pets I agree with Turbo 13. Those who have no sentimental ties cull or not that's your choice. I have a small flock so I try to feed mine the best diet possible so that they will lay for a long time before they go to the retirement home.

 

[cluckiemama]

Even though I love my girls - I think that when the time comes it would be wasteful not to eat them. Isn't that what I'm trying to do - feed them leftovers and eat their eggs? Circle of life and all that?

 

[Beekissed]

Yep....I really don't see how anyone could raise these birds from chicks and care for them all that time and then just discard them like old shoes when they die. How dishonorable is that? Really.

How much more noble an end than to nourish the one that has nourished them? It completes a circle, one is taken to become one with the other and life goes on and on.

I can't imagine wasting my good chickens in this manner...after all the hard work they've done for me? Nope. I honor them by repurposing their lives into nutrition. Their absence from the farm also allows for another chick to have a great life doing what chickens do until they too are honored by living on in another.

Its the ultimate in love....the choice is simple: Dig a hole and bury them, for them to be consumed by bacteria, fungi, bugs and worms. I've even heard of folks in the city putting them in a trash bag and sending them to the dump to be torn apart by rats and seagulls. Ick.

OR....turn their flesh into a nutritious and aromatic meal for me and my family, their entrails to the dogs that have kept them safe throughout their lives, their feathers to the wind so that another bird can build a nest with the offering.

I'll take the latter, thanks!