What do you do with older hens?

[Silly Indie]

We keep em til the end. Granted we have the space to do so but we just let them live their lives free ranging and being spoiled

 

[Callender Girl]

My rule has always been, once a critter has a name, it is a pet and has a home for life. I grew up in the country, always knew where meat comes from, and I've certainly eaten meat that came from animals that I was acquainted with.

But I think I would gag if I were to try to eat Honey, Celeste, Camille or any of the other girls who have spent their lives giving me eggs, entertainment and purpose. I'm retired, and they all will be, too.

 

[Silexian]

I have a few different ways to deal with older hens. I process a few to make broth and chicken and dumplings. I sell some of the friendlier ones through the buy and sell sites. A lot of people in my area just want a few hens. To have peck around their yard and are not that concerned with egg production. I sell most at auction. I can sell large groups all at once. They are guaranteed to sell. It only takes a couple of hours. Instead of spending all day at the farmers market hoping they sell.

 

[Perris]

I was going to cull my 4 year olds this year, but actually both of them have done really well, one laying about 120 eggs so far this calendar year, and the other half that number but she's also been broody and raised 6 chicks, currently about 6 wks old. They have outperformed the 1-2 year olds who I expected to be laying well, but who have both instead been struggling with (I suspect) MS, or hiding their eggs. And the 3 year olds have laid about the same as the 4 yr olds, one of them going broody and raising chicks instead too. These are all rare or heritage breeds so I don't expect production hen egg output. I am glad I didn't cull the older girls, and if all chicks make it to adulthood, I'll probably end up getting another coop!

 

[bobbi-j]

We eat them. We pressure can the meat and it’s as tender as can be. It’s so handy to just grab a jar out of the pantry and make a quick meal. It works for chicken soup, chicken salad, chicken stew, chicken sandwiches, chicken tacos, chicken enchiladas….

If you aren’t comfortable with pressure canning, cooking it in an Instant Pot also makes them nice and tender. You can freeze the meat until ready to use.

 

[texsuze]

All my hens are pure pets with names and distinct personalities, so they remain with me until they meet their own demise, or, need to be humanely put to rest.

 

[Ponypoor]

Yup - pets till the end; of course I only have the three so it's easy I think it is different if you have a flock of a few dozen but when you only have a few and they have names, follow you around like dogs, and beg for food, then they become more like companions than food production.

I have always lived in a farming community and know where my food comes from, but all the farmers around here have their 'pet' livestock - that special dairy cow that has the run of the place, that Ewe that thinks she is a dog, that swine that roots around the garden, and the chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and Peacocks that both entertain and are just a conversation starter.

I think we have all been to the feed mill and met so-and-so who just had to tell you the latest on what 'that damn animal' did this time around, haven't we all?

 

[lomine]

Most become dog food (after humane dispatch). My old dogs got homemade food and the current puppy is on a raw food diet. Sometimes I'll make some stock.

I've also got some lifers. These girls have cemented their place in the flock by being great broodies. They raise several clutches each summer. Their work raising chicks is well worth their feed costs through the year. I've also got one rooster who gets to stay for life, because he has a special place in my heart.