When our chickens get old

[momreda]

Quote:
I sure wish I could get my smilies to work cause that is a funny post right there!!!

 

[joebryant]

I think that every two or three years I'll replace my hens and rooster. I'll give them all away with no questions asked. Can't see keeping free-range chickens that don't lay, and can't even imagine our eating them.

 

[Buff Hooligans]

Quote:
It's a good thing Ann doesn't have this mindset. Just sayin'...

 

[Sunny Side Up]

This is a very very good question for every chicken keeper to consider. Along with what to do with unwanted roosters. The answers will be different for each person, and everyone is free to do whatever feels best for them.

But it must be taken into consideration, and best done as early as possible in your chicken-keeping experience. That way you don't get stuck with a lot of free-loading old hens you were expecting to give eggs, and you don't have heartbreak eating birds you considered beloved pets.

I'm still fairly new to keeping chickens so I still have some of my original old layers. They all each have a name and a fan base and won't get eaten unless we're completely out of groceries. A lot of my old hens have already died of health complications (blowouts, internal laying, etc) or predator attacks.

I process all our extra roosters for the table. My kids won't let me name them anything but "Meat" although many of them have secret names known only to me. I don't see anything wrong with caring for and caring about the birds I plan to have for the table, just like I care for & about the produce I grow in my garden. I can love it right up to and right at the table on my plate, & on the plates of my family.

I read a great article in BackYard Poultry magazine about the superior flavor older hens have, and how rare it is these days to be able to sample it, since most of our meat birds are processed when they're very very young. But older hens are more flavorful, and make the best soup when slowly simmered, and have great health-giving properties. I can see where that might be a suitable end for an old laying friend, who faithfully gave eggs for a few years, then made a nourishing soup that fed her family, maybe even helped someone recover from an illness.

 

[schellie69]

I am new to having chickens and I have 10 pullets that just started laying I have 4 Americana bantams 2 Plymouth barred rock. 2 buff orphingtons and 2 new Hampshire reds, they all have names these I have decided we will keep until they die of old age, I had a bad experience when I was a child and butchering chickens so for now they are pets, but if I decided to get more and they were meat birds they would not be named by anybody and everyone would know that they were going to be food, right now I live in town so havind a large flock is not in the cards but if i had a farm then I would have a large flock for laying and meat. The answer would be as different as each person flock is. I think every flock needs an old hen just to help the younger ones figure things out.

 

[doublebow]

This has been a very good subject to discuss. Nice to see everyone's opinions and practices out here in a non-judgmental way. I raise goats as well as chickens and it is worth repeating to have a plan in the beginning for what to do with extras, culls etc. Sometimes a special animal may come along and change your plan though...

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
It's a good thing Ann doesn't have this mindset. Just sayin'...

That doesn't apply to the two silkies; she'd get rid of me before she'd let me get rid of therm. I could NEVER give my sweet, little silkies away for ANY reason.

 

[Kendall Chicks]

I think after all this I've atleast decided for now that I will let my favorite ( Big Bertha) Retire and live out her life with me. She is kinda the run of the coop anyways. Know I just need to decide what to do with the others......

 

[marymac]

Well for what it's worth, we butchered a few of our old hens this past summer, and let me tell you the one I have cooked made absolutely the best chicken and dumplings I have ever, ever, made. i was leery about her being stringy and tasteless , but that was not the case. I don't like killing any living creature, but I can't see keeping and feeding an animal if it isn't producing what I got it for in the first place. If you have plenty of space for me that would make a difference. I could see how a chicken can become a pet, or any farm animal for that matter. I have always wished I could have a pig for a pet and feed it till it explodes, just to see how big it could get, there's something beautiful to me about a great big massive pig, and I know some people would think that's nuts. So if you want pet chickens thats great!! I do look at food difrently now. I think a lot of people should stop and think about the sacrifice animals make to feed all of us. Hamburger doesn't come from McDonalds as many kids today think it does. Just try asking your grandkids. That is the answere I get, sad.

 

[lauriruth]

That is a wonderful story. thanks.