My old hens get crabby and mean. I like to get chicks each year. I always loose some to predators, ugh! but I love to cook, and love having my own chicken broth.
I think I really like having the flock, not so much individual birds, but I do get attached to a few, but the dang coon harvested that one!
Also if you have a good broody hen, and not a real big flock, and space so everyone is not crowded, you can raise the chicks right in the flock, no reintroduction problems, and this year, when the aforementioned coon, ate my favorite hen, Butter who did have a brood of 11 chicks, who were only 3.5 weeks old, my flock did not bother the chicks, even when she was no longer there to protect them.
I like cycling mine.... but I admit, I would have kept Butter at least one more year.
MrsK