What do you do with your chickens when they are done laying?

[UrbanFarmerGreg]

I was just wondering if you could eat a hen that is 6,7,8 or older... I know that the younger hens are more desirable meat but I was wondering if it becomes too tough or what?

 

[bobbi-j]

I have, in the past, just left them out and let nature take its course. But then I got to thinking - why do I want to feed the local predators after I've invested my time, effort and money into these birds? So I decided to recoup some of that by butchering and pressure canning them. The canning process tenderizes them nicely, and they are great served over rice, in soup, stew, or any other chicken recipes you can think of. I have a friend who deals with her old hens in a different way. (She just doesn't have the heart to butcher her laying hens herself) She gives them to me or other friends knowing full well that they're going to get butchered anyway. She gets her chickens for meat from other friends who give her their spent hens. It works well for everyone concerned.

 

[LiLRedCV]

We have a "Green Mile" coop for our non-producing hens and my brother was supposed to take care of them (8 ct) for me in exchange for all the organic eggs he was getting for his family. Well, it didn't happen - yet - they were down there for almost a year, so gave up the ghost and re-incorporated them back into the main flock to live out their days at leisure.... The only one out of the 8 not re-incorporated into our main flock was the rooster. I have one I want to keep in the main flock already... that one at the GM coop needs to go. He either needs to find a new home or head off for freezer camp and a pressure cooker.

I keep chickens for several reasons: (1) eggs (2) natural bug control (3) fertilizer (4) weed control (5) yard moss control (6) meat (7) entertainment, etc etc etc

So if my intended GM flock hasn't hit the dinner table yet, they're still good for all the other reasons why we keep them. Eventually, I will have a few of my girls hit freezer camp. I'm not sure I can do the deed myself tho' so am looking into alternatives (processor). However, I do have a couple of favorites in my flock that will NEVER be on our dinner table! LOL

 

[al6517]

Well I never keep any unproductive bird around at all for any amount of time once I know they aren't laying. WTS I did have a rooster I was going to sell at auction because I didn't need him, well one of my Clients is an elderly woman who has moved to town from the country for convienence because of age, she knows I raise chickens and asked if I had an extra or two. She wanted a rooster to just watch in the yard and make those cool crowing sounds. I gave her the extra rooster, She loves the bird and she is very popular when her old biddy friends come over for tea on the patio and they all have fun watching it and is a conversation piece. This may be a good source to have for spent chickens and add a little peace to an older person without much work on their part, It reminds them of the good ole day's back on the farm.

 

[Nicki]

I keep mine as pets, so I just let them die of old age...I only have 8 left

 

[johnsons-r-us]

Quote:
That is a very cool idea!

 

[gryeyes]

I know when I am old(er) and grey(er) I will enjoy sitting on my veranda and watching my flock just be chickens. I have several roosters in my flock and they're so interesting to observe in their interactions with the hens and each other. (No fights, just challenges. Silly boys.)

Wait! I do that now.... huh.

 

[wyododge]

Sell em to a new chicken owner as 'laying trainers'.

You might be able to get 50 bucks a piece if your story sounds good...

 

[anderson8505]

Quote:
I agree with this. Some o' my favorites/good ones, I'd keep. I'd probably have to give the rest up to someone else though, for soup. I've studied killing chickens and just don't think I could do it unless they were in pain.

 

[donrae]

Quote:

I just rehomed 14 hens ranging from four to seven years. I had intended to butcher them for that great broth I've heard about, but life is just too busy now and I really didn't want to carry them through the winter again. I advertised them for free on craigslist and they went to some ladies who wanted them to add to their flock. I was very up front about their ages and lack of current production. At that point I just wanted to get rid of them--feed's not getting any cheaper--- and even threw in a roo for them. Course, now I have room in the coop and find myself checking out the hatchery specials, or looking at incubators......this is bad!!!!!