What do you do with old chickens that stop laying?

[LittleFeat]

My plan is that by the time that is an issue, I will have convinced the DH we need LAND!! Then we can just let them grow old....along with me....and still have to room to get new chicks to start the cycle again!

shhhhh just don't tell "him" my plan!!

 

[MakNat]

We cook ours. After raising them and letting them be very happy, healthy chickens I don't feel bad. Really... Think of what the poor grocery store chickens go through, no life at all, plus pumped with hormones and antibiotics...

 

[ChickyLaura]

Quote:
I agree (though I haven't butchered any of ours yet). I used to love eating chicken, that is until I got ours. Now store chicken looks gross there, lying in the styrafoam packages.

We do plan on butchering some this year. I think I'd rather eat my own chickens that I know lived happy and healthy lives. I guess it's what farmers have had to do for years.

 

[scooter147]

Quote:
I agree (though I haven't butchered any of ours yet). I used to love eating chicken, that is until I got ours. Now store chicken looks gross there, lying in the styrafoam packages.

We do plan on butchering some this year. I think I'd rather eat my own chickens that I know lived happy and healthy lives. I guess it's what farmers have had to do for years.

I raise 50 meaties each year for the freezer. Store bought seems mushy and watery to me.

 

[pringle]

I think its easier when you have around 40-100 laying hens.For butchering that is.Becouse you dont get attached to every single one.If you have a small flock of 12 or so I could never butcher them becouse ive known them for there whole lives and each and everyones personality

 

[CherokeeCowgirl]

Hens that stop laying get eaten here.

 

[DaveD]

We're still waiting for our first bevy of beauties, but my wife has assured me that we will not eat the pets. Seems a waste, but I'd rather sleep in my bed than in the coop

 

[daquilajmd]

I've thought about this question often. I'm a new chicken owner. My boyfriend built me a beautiful, predator-proof hen house and coop. I have one sebright bantam, one black sex-link, five golden comets (or maybe red sex-links, not sure what they are) and a RIR roo. They're a great little flock and we have named them all. However, I am not opposed to eating them either. I think we will definitely keep the roo around (Cocktail is his name) and this one other hen (Rosie) because she's such a character, and of course our bantam, Little Jeannie, named after me. Haha! The others all look the same and while they're lovely laying hens, they would also make good soup!

 

[BckCntryBurrows]

I let my old ladies retire. They get to help keep the tick and insect population down. However, many of my birds lay very well way past year 2 or 3. I have 4 year old polish that seem to be laying just about every day right now. I have a Speckled Sussex that just stopped laying last year at around age 7.

Wow, that's pretty impressive. Do you exclusively free range or do you supplement with anything?

 

[southernflock14]

I have a EE and a speckled Sussex laying 4-5 eggs a week. I just let them live out their life happily until old age gets em they are both 6-7