What do you do with your hens when they stop laying??

[gryeyes]

Quote:
I teach my chickens not to peck at me, by pecking back. Just put your fore and middle fingers together and thunk 'em either on the side or back of the head. I am the top of the pecking order here, and aggressively pecking chickens get pecked by ME when I'm hand-feeding them. If they peck at me, I thwap 'em, if they peck at another trying to get to the treats in my hand, I thwap 'em. Be nice, or nobody gets any treats.

It's hard when there is a mass of chickens vying for a handful of treats, but I still peck the greedy ones. It works for me; repetition and consistency is the key.

Chickens can learn.

 

[LindsaySinai]

Quote:
I teach my chickens not to peck at me, by pecking back. Just put your fore and middle fingers together and thunk 'em either on the side or back of the head. I am the top of the pecking order here, and aggressively pecking chickens get pecked by ME when I'm hand-feeding them. If they peck at me, I thwap 'em, if they peck at another trying to get to the treats in my hand, I thwap 'em. Be nice, or nobody gets any treats.

It's hard when there is a mass of chickens vying for a handful of treats, but I still peck the greedy ones. It works for me; repetition and consistency is the key.

Chickens can learn.

Thank you, I dodnt think about that. I just got attacked by my aunts rooster the other day and got made fun of for not kicking him...I was too startled to react besides running I've been scared to give them treats out of my hand because they seem to get to excited and I have a fear it will hurt. Is it to late to start trying if they're already 6 months and older?? What kind of treats do you give them?? I've gone online searching for appropriate things but have just settled with giving them figs from my tree and lettuce so they're not always just stuck with chicken feed.

 

[lovin my birds]

I very much agree with gryeyes, chickens can be taught. Just like a dog. It is funny the way you taught your chickens is the same way I taught mine. Some of the more aggressive hens needed a little more pecking than others but eventually they got the hang of it. They learn that if the hand that feeds you get pecked they get pecked. I know it sounds mean but I have even smaked one of my hens. She was a little pecker, and she pecked hard! She even tried to flogg me one time while collecting eggs. Ya she got smaked! Anyway backto the OP, my hens live out their lives with me. I have had a hen that lived for 11 years, 5 months, 2 weeks, and 3 days, all while laying 2 eggs a week. I am so very proud of her, and I miss her like crazy. But to me they are all pets, and if my girls love me enough to lay for me for 4 or 5 years then for their last 2 or 3 they can have a place to be comfortable and live a happy life. I plan on one day to have a old chicks home where my "retired" chickens will stay. Since it seems like my older girls like to eat the eggs.

They get thwarted for that, just cause they are old doesnt mean they can get away with anything. Lol!

 

[poseygrace]

I read on another post that you can "stalk" them too to show dominance by following them around the yard aggressively. LOL. Haven't tried it yet, but I have one mean little BO I am going to practice on this afternoon.

But back to topic, when mine stop laying, I have an aunt who lives out in the country and has dozens that just free range and forage. They have a great life. She doesn't have them for eggs, just likes to look at them in the yard. I will send them there. (Like when you tell your kids that the family dog "went to live on a farm in the country..." except mine really will.

)

 

[pawsplus]

My girls are pets. I don't even eat eggs (I'm vegan)--I give some eggs away but mostly my dogs get them and some are fed back to the chickens--but if I did it wouldn't matter. Clarice is at least 8 now and going strong--she and all the girls will be with me until they die a natural death, hopefully in very old age.

 

[kimntep]

Quote:
Well said! Most of mine are pet-quality, not food, and I will give them as happy and healthy a life as possible for as long as they're alive and well!

 

[vanilla.exe]

My chickens are pets, so I intend to keep them for as long as they will grace me with their presence. But, I understand that not everyone has chickens for "companionship". In that case, if you've never had it, home made chicken soup is so much better than any other chicken soup I've ever had. Slow cook the whole thing all day (remove the bones before consuming) and you barely need to add other ingredients. If you had an aversion to eating your pets, I'm sure there's plenty of people out there who either wouldn't mind a free meal.

 

[sadies chicks]

Quote:
I have done the same thing. My birds are 16 weeks now and my Red Sex Link - the most aggressive of the bunch - nearly got my eye one day when I was squatting down to talk with them...all of a sudden....THUNK!! right under my eye! I had a welt and a red spot for a week she hit me so hard. I smacked her and we now are learning polite chicken manners when chicken mommy is in the yard. She and a few others are greedy when snack time comes so I have pecked and bonked a few of them for being rude. I don't bonk or peck like I would to my 65 pound dog, it is a bonk or a peck equivalent for a 2+ pound (at this time) chicken. Just a bunch of kids they all are!

Oh and my kids will live a happy retirement with me until chicken heaven calls them home. Until then, they will feast on watermelon, cottage cheese and mealworms and live a happy carefree life!!

 

[ajay]

I have no idea what we are going to do. We are in it for the eggs too and since we are limited as to how many chickens we can keep (6), I can't imagine keeping them for even 5 years. That being said, I don't know how I could ever explain to my kids that their pet (and they absolutely treat them that way) has outlived their usefulness and needs to go to a new home. I am hoping when we cross that bridge, it will be obvious how to handle it.

 

[silverback]

Mine will have proper funerals when they meet their demise. Little burials in the woods where the others roam. Couldn't possibly eat them (plus I've been vegetarian for 36 years) - although my husband could...

After all their entertaining behavior and wonderful eggs I think they deserve a happy retirement from egg laying when that time comes.

I mean, how can you eat an animal you have named? :

S.