What will you do when they are too old to lay?

[chickenlorena]

Our are our animal companions so they'll end up dying from natural deaths

We love them so much that I cannot imagine ever killing them!

 

[vickie2133]

Well my oldest chicken is fancy pants. He is three this year at Easter. He will be here all his days. My rule is now since we have over 40 chickens lol, no one name it. If the kids or me name it, it has a forever home. If it remanes nameless, it is livestock. I hate that rule, but no chose when you have 4 kids that like them all.

 

[Dixiedoodle]

I am hoping that one or two will be my broody hen! I am still waiting on one of them to go broody.. My little Ameraucana that was broody died, so I am hoping that one of the 18month olds will go broody in the spring...

If not, they will stay here w/ us until their death-- I pray it is natural..

 

[mulewagon]

The first thing my husband said when we got them, was, "Don't name the chickens!" I haven't, so maybe I can eat them after a couple of years. It'll be harder with this generation, because they're hand-reared. I hope the next generation will be reared by hens, and less human-friendly. I don't need any guilt on my plate

 

[Ibicella]

I normally eat old layers.

The ones that have become pets are still serving an important function, so they simply live out their lives as our companions, as well as doing the regular "chicken work" of taking care of the compost pile, cleaning up the garden, acting as garbage disposals, and acting as pest control.

 

[Beekissed]

I have pets/backyard chickens, so I guess this applies to me. I kill them and eat them when they are too old to lay. Or...I kill them and feed them to my dogs.

 

[redhen]

I dont know.. Its a tough call. I'm going through this now...ALL my girls have stopped laying! Not sure WHATS going on. The oldest are only a few yrs old!!
If i have to make the decision..i will keep a few of my older favorite girls and try to re-home the rest. Then hatch some new chicks in the spring..
If i cant find homes for my girls then i'll have to cull them myself. (or actually hubby will have to do it)
I'd rather have them culled by us then some stranger that may make them suffer before.

 

[Beekissed]

That's why I kill and eat my own. I don't like the thought of them having to leave their home and all the trauma associated with that and then maybe go somewhere that has no protection against predators or to someone who won't offer the hand of mercy if they are sick or injured. I'd rather a quick death and a long sleep for them.

I know a lady who wants a few of my older gals for pets but the last two I gave her got eaten by some predator....she doesn't have any dogs to protect them at all and she could never help them if they got injured. She would probably try to nurse them around while they lay suffering and dying slowly....I can't bear the thought of my gals that I have nurtured since they were chicks having to suffer like that.

I always wonder how people can let chickens die "naturally" or let nature take it's course by allowing predators to prey on their flocks. How needlessly cruel when they could offer them a quick ending to a good life.

 

[cmom]

Freezer camp...

 

[mboreham1]

i can absolutely see your point bekissed. I think we have a responsibility to care for the flock, sometimes that means a cull, i have heard that older chicken isnt that great to eat though, a little like mutton, tough unless cooked for a very long time.

Not sure i fully see eye to eye on the age thing though, i am sure some chickens, if well fed, sheltered and protected from predators will live to an old age, and die, of natural causes like every other animal.

I have a beagle, he goes everywhere with me, apart from the wife, he is next in command, if he becomes sick, he will get put down at the vet, apart from sickness or disease, he will die, in his sleep, in his kennel, I wont "pre empt" his possible suffering by euthanizing him first, i have the same feeling with my chickens, if they can live to an old age, doing what they love, i will leave them be, if they are sick or suffering, i will put them out of their misery