What does a person do with old hens that are no longer laying?

[Guinea Goonie]

I have never eaten my old layers. Everntually they just die of either old age, disease, injury or predators.

People who eat them do so with my blessing. I have NO problem with this. I just figure that they have served me for whatever natural life process they have been able to give me.

I have enjoyed their lovely eggs and their shenanigans. I have Banty hens that are just about worhtless even though they are laying. I figure what the heck, it is a life, one that I brought into my barn. Live and Let Live is my response.

 

[AdrieeC]

In my family it is considered honorable to eat animals once they no longer produce. But we are sure to use every part of the animal the way past generations would have done. when we raised chickens in my childhood We would feed the dogs the internal organs... and the bones go into the compost once all the meat has been eaten/boiled off for chicken stock and my dad cleans all the feathers and uses them for crafts. The earth gets fed, the pets get fed, and our bodies and souls are fed as well thanks to this animal.

Do what you feel in your heart is the right thing to do, and you will be happy with your choice.

 

[texascowboy1979]

Its not always the old hens, depending whats available... sometimes its a rooster if we have extras, or a chicken... but If Im down to breeding stock only... I go without eating chicken untill i have more.. I gave up commercial meats, porks, and poultry...

If I can kill it, then I can eat it... at least I know what goes into my animals, what they eat, and the care they have... ITs Organic.

 

[Chickn chick 46]

This is an issue I've been thinking about recently also. I have seven 4-5 year olds who always start to molt in late October and never lay another egg till spring. To help them with the molting I mixed safflower seed in with their scratch for extra protein as well as scrambled eggs on occasion. They went thru the molt alot quicker and, much to my surprise my blue egg layer and one of my BR's started laying in early February. The other day I found 5 eggs in the nest boxes! I'm not going to stress about making a decision about what to do with them, I feel to many different ways about it. I figure it'll all work out in the wash, as they say

Good luck though, you have to do what you feel is right for you and your situation

 

[jettgirl24]

My first flock are still just babies but I plan to keep them even after they are no longr productive. We're on a city lot right now but will probably move out further in a couple years and will have some more room. I've thought a lot about it and I plan to slowly add to the flock as this batch gets older so we keep our laying rate about the same without getting overrun with chickies. As long as we have enough for the family i'm happy !

 

[usschicago1]

Whats Wrong with keeping them as pets? The way i look at it they provide you with eggs for four years, and you pay them back bye giving them a long life. I would let them be lawn ornaments, maybe a hawk will pick them off

 

[BlackBart]

I keep my old ones and they train the new ones. I figure it is the least I can do for their service. Some still lay the odd egg.
But I do realize not all people think the same and thats OK with me.