What to do with older layers?

[cqranch]

What does everyone do with their older layers? Do you try to sell them? Give them away? They are still laying some, especially in summer they were laying quite well.. 2-3 eggs per week, hens are over 2 years.

 

[speckledhen]

All my original girls are about to turn 3 yrs old, the ones who haven't died from internal laying, that is. They stay here till they pass on. No stew pot, no auction.

 

[ibpboo]

My older girls are still here, 6 years, I still get eggs from them but not during the winter and not every day. They will stay here till the end, they are my pets and they eat bugs and left overs.

 

[Reinbeau]

So you keep the older ones and integrate new ones in as they die off?

 

[Leah-yes I know I'm crazy]

I've given a few away to people who wanted them for pets (knowing they would rarely lay) and a few I have kept because they are good brooders or surrigate mothers. I have quite a few old birds who are freeloaders by production standards but the cost of feeding and housing them as pets go is still much less than a dog or cat would be.

 

[ibpboo]

Quote:
Yes, I also have two 8 month olds and two 6 month olds, and then two others I do not know the age of. One just showed up and started living with us and the other was a rescue. I have four that are 6 years. They all live together, except for the one that just showed up, she prefers to be alone and is broody all the time, but no rooster to make her eggs fertile. This time she is under the barn and I can not get to her.

 

[Mahonri]

When mine quit laying, they will become stew.

 

[FrontPorchIndiana]

Depends on what their intended function was. I have Bantams that will live out their days here because they're considered pets. I have a couple of barred rocks that are also pets. The main layer flock though will end up in a stew pot after two years. That's why we bought them and that's why I've never named them. I wouldn't be able to justify feeding that many birds if they aren't laying.

 

[cqranch]

Keeping them until they die sounds like would be ok if you have a few birds, won't cost that much in feed. Right now I have close to 80 birds. Around 20 of them being the older layers. I've been hatching eggs now to have some pullets ready to lay next spring as their replacements. 20 freeloaders, I think, would be too many. Being a bachelor, I wouldn't be making that much stew either. lol. Guess I'll try selling them first, then if that don't work, will give them away.

 

[redhen]

I think i may keep a few "special" ones..and add the others to my stew pot...unless i can find them a REALLY good home....which will be highly unlikely..most people wont take in a hen that dosent lay anymore..