Whats old hen who does not lay called?

[al6517]

Agreed on the personal choice issue, and the whole growing fad of the pet chicken movement is ensuring this train of thought to be the norm. I don't name my birds for simpler reasons.......... being I just don't have the time nor the inclination to remember or refer to them by name. But I see where more and more folks are keeping chickens as pet's and the chicken has a home for life trend is a bonefide industry, making those of us who aren't quite into it that way feel a little ostracated and shunned. Therefore restricting on commenting in a particular way as not to offend the huggers, just trying to get along here.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
That right there. I have a whole coop of the darlings. My brahma girls are now 3 years, 7 months old. Molting right now, but I know they will continue to contribute to the daily egg production when they come out of it. The smallest of them, a bantam brahma named Maggie, finished her molt in under two weeks and is now back to laying.

When all my other hens have quit laying through the winter I know my brahma girls will come through for me.

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

I call them spent or useless really. The age doesn't make a huge difference to me, whether they are 1 or 5 years old, if they aren't laying, they don't stay around.

 

[clucksbc]

Well writen!!!!!

Spent
Old
useless
barren
finished
washed up
done
dead meat
soup
tommorows leftovers
dense mass taking up space

good names for old hens:

sweetie
old lady of the coop
retired
princess
friend
golden girl
blessing

think I prefer the sweetie list

 

[woodmort]

Stewie

 

[chickbea]

I call them "biddies", but I don't know if that is the correct use of the term.

 

[hallerlake]

Quote:
It's also a matter of scale. Someone who raises hundreds of birds isn't going to have the same feelings about them as someone who has four. When you only have a few birds, they are individuals with personalities. When you have hundreds, one bird is a lot like another.

 

[southerndesert]

Quote:
X-2......

 

[Alethea]

A layover? Seriously, ours are pets, too, and will continue to be so when they have spent their eggs.

 

[RattlesnakeRidgeWV]

spent hen=dinner sometimes??? I like to keep my options open!!!