What to do with older hens

[Roostermom3]

i have about 20 hens of varying ages that I am replacing with new chicks. It’s been a long winter in which I have had to hide my head in shame and BUY EGGS at the grocery store. First, what’s the easiest way to get rid of older chickens? I’m thinking Craigslist for free. Second, what’s the best way to tell who is still laying?

Thanks.

 

[aart]

Most hens over 18 months old will not be laying now anyway....if you live in the northern hemisphere...but this is a pretty good way to tell:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

Yes, the easiest way would be free on CL.
I personally hatch and slaughter and/or sell some each year,
keeping only two age groups over winter.

 

[Molpet]

half of mine hatched last year are not back laying yet, out of 32 birds I was getting 4 eggs a day a month ago.. today I got 14
red combs are the ones laying or getting ready to lay. wider pubic bone width in the ones laying if you want a hands on approach.
If you post them on CL or FB swaps make sure you specify no butchering on your property.

 

[LunaTheSickChick]

Hi Roostermom3!
My advice would be to find out if they are still laying eggs, feel gently around the
vent.

The area will feel inflated when the hen is in lay, also her vent will be enlarged and moist like whereas a pullet that has never laid will be dry and no enlarged
If the area feels taut or the bird looks unwell, she may not be laying and may have an illness such as egg peritonitis.
Go through these steps and you should be able to kinda have an idea who is and who isn't.

1. Feathers. The feathers of a productive laying hen generally are dirty, worn, and raggedy looking, since this hen is concentrating her energy on producing eggs and not on preening and replacing her dirty feathers. She is not spending much time in front of the mirror, per se.
2. Combs and wattles. A non-producing hen will have a scaly, pale, and shrivelled comb and wattle, while a good layer will have waxy, full, bright red ones.
3. Carriage. A good layer will be alert to her surroundings and not be listless and lazy. Her eyes will be bright and she should be relatively active (such as scratching in the litter, running around with her companions, etc.).
4. Skin. Depending on when you check, and what breed of chicken you are looking at, a hen’s skin should be bleached, while non-layers will have darker-pigmented skin.

 

[rebrascora]

The chances are that they will all come into lay again very soon. My older girls are just starting back up now. You have kept and fed them through the past few lean months so to me it doesn't make sense to give them away now just when they are becoming productive again. Autumn, when they were moulting, would have been the time to move them on. I would keep them until next autumn now and maybe only get rid of girls that appear to have problems.... look for swollen poopy butts.
If you have ordered chicks it will be some time before they are up to production, so you might as well at least keep the older girls till then and I'm sure you will find homes for them if you offer them free or you could process them for meat.... they won't be good for barbeque or roasting but will make great soup or stew using a slow cooker.

 

[Roostermom3]

half of mine hatched last year are not back laying yet, out of 32 birds I was getting 4 eggs a day a month ago.. today I got 14
red combs are the ones laying or getting ready to lay. wider pubic bone width in the ones laying if you want a hands on approach.
If you post them on CL or FB swaps make sure you specify no butchering on your property.

Molpet- have you had this happen? That’s crazy.

 

[Molpet]

Molpet- have you had this happen? That’s crazy.

people I know had birds killed infront of their kids.. they knew they were going to be killed but didn't think it would be there... now they kill them and use them for soup themselves.

 

[bobbi-j]

i have about 20 hens of varying ages that I am replacing with new chicks. It’s been a long winter in which I have had to hide my head in shame and BUY EGGS at the grocery store. First, what’s the easiest way to get rid of older chickens? I’m thinking Craigslist for free. Second, what’s the best way to tell who is still laying?

Thanks.

There are a couple of ways to thin your flock. One, obviously, would be craigslist which you've already thought about. Another would be for your to process them yourself. Older hens are great for pressure canning or pressure cooking. The carcass can be used to make bone broth - another delicious use for your old hens. If you think canning or pressure cooking isn't for you, a crock pot works well, too.

I realize that processing one's hens isn't for everyone, but my theory is this. I have put in the time, effort and money into raising these birds. I would rather process them myself, knowing that they have lived a good life and one bad moment rather than send them off somewhere, where I don't know how they're being treated, and not knowing if they will be killed humanely or not.

There is nothing wrong with reducing your numbers now, especially if you are replacing some with chicks. More room is better, in my opinion. Move out the old, move in the new.