What to do after egg layers stop laying...

[wxdude99]

What do you do when your egg layers get to be a year old and stop laying eggs? I'll only have room for around 4 chickens in my coop and I don't want to keep them unless they're laying eggs. I guess the answer is obvious, but after a year, I don't think I'll want to kill and eat my chickens. And my kids would freak out! Thanks

 

[MissPrissy]

Stew pot. Hens go well with dumplings.

 

[Colored Egg Farmer]

To the stockyards.

 

[Chicken Boo]

They may have just stopped laying for the winter, like mine do. Have they started molting yet? Mine look like they have mange. They stop laying just before they start molting. You will probably have a surprise in the nest box around the beginning of March.

 

[Wynette]

They shouldn't stop laying alltogether at that young of an age. I'm sure it's because the daylight hours are getting shorter & shorter. Some folks choose to put a light in the coop, and add a few hours of artificial sun via the light in the morning.

It's a personal choice; I choose not to. I feel they need a break from laying. But, it's something you can definitely do if you're not opposed to it.