What do you do with chickens that are done laying eggs?

[Organics North]

Quote:
No you would not want to just release them.. Give the preds a taste for chicken they will be back in numbers for more..

Really it is totally up to you and your spouse.. You want to eat them, she whats to keep them for pets.. Maybe meet in the middle? Keep a few for life as pets, eat a few when you feel your feed to egg cost gets too high, or you want more than 3 eggs a day from the entire flock..

Your call....

ON

 

[columbiacritter]

I give my old girls to the Laotians in my warehouse crew, they give me yummy egg rolls and other tasty foood stuffs.

Occasioanlly one will piss me off enough I'll off it myself and into the crock pot she or more often he, goes.

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

They'll be kept for the rest of their lives until they die of natural causes. Our ladies work hard for us and we plan to give them a worthy retirement. They're going on 4 years now, and production has certainly decreased. But it's the sacrifice I make to keep them here with me.

I truly and honestly respect those who chose to partake the in the decision to eat their own birds. I am not unreasonable, and understand the reasons behind it. But it is not a decision I wish to make. I cannot see myself doing it in the future.

 

[Yay Chicks!]

I can only have 4. They are pets and I'm a vegetarian. So, if they live long, healthy lives, I will probably be reduced to buying eggs from friends again and my girls will be pets who continue to produce compost. I would love to someday have enough land to introduce new birds every, or every other, spring....sigh.

 

[alaskachick]

I may it eat mine when it comes time, but I will send to a meat processor. I dont think I could kill and butcher them myself. Im not sure right now, maybe I will get too attached to them by them and not be able to do even that.

 

[vatterpa]

Ive heard of people that retire their chickens to the compost pile, alive of course. They put a pen around the compost pile and put them in there. They eat from it and you only need a simple coop to house them. Bugs, scraps, and occasional grain are all thats needed. They turn the compost and give you a few eggs.

I will eat mine, but it is a thought

 

[7L Farm]

Quote:
I love and care for them for the rest of their days (years

)


JJ

I'll probably do the same after all they have provided for me I can't turn my back on them now. Chickens life is short.

 

[patman75]

Hens start to slow down egg production after the 2nd molt (2.5-3years). From a just thinking about $$, it does not make economical sence to feed them whlie they molt for the 2nd time.

My plan is to get 6 new chicks very year and when the older birds start the 2nd molt they will be removed from the flock. I will always have 12 or more laying hens at all times.

What to do with those birds,

Soup chickens
Dog food
You could feed the them back to your chickens

if they are scrawney leghorns.

 

[Jeeper1540]

I will keep my pet chikens forever. i am going to build them a retirement coop eventually, so i have room for new layers in the big flock when their retirement comes

 

[sourland]

Everyone is allowed as many pets as they want. For me a few are pets, the rest have a job and are treated humanely and respectfully. When they can no longer do their job, they become soup, stew, crockpotted, or dog food.