When to cull old hens??

[Ms Clucky]

Nooo! I won't cull mine Never! But that's just me. Me and my chickens are

 

[Cyprus]

Personally, I don't cull old hens.
My eldest is 6 and still laying.
I only cull aggressive roosters and cockerels.

 

[Mosey2003]

But eating Grandpa before he's old & infirm is appropriate? Not judging, just trying to keep up

Not unless your plane goes down in the mountains

 

[50-45-1]

Your hens look ragedy because of your aggresive rooster.
I have a hen 8 years old and her feathering is beautiful.
I dont cull except excess roosters. My hens are pets to me. They supply me with eggs and enjoyment by just being.
Your chickens, your choice.
Part of my flock is 3 year old hens i rescued from a egg producer in the area. They are a joy to me. And they still lay eggs well, even through this long, long winter we are having.

 

[farmingchic]

I personally don’t t cull my old hens, unless they’re sick. I feel like I should let them live out their life for repayment of all the eggs. My 2 oldest are 7 and still seem healthy & even give me an occasional egg!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Regarding hatching, birds past their prime, even on "good feed" arent going to be producing the best eggs for hatching

 

[Chickassan]

I don't cull either, one of the biggest reason I keep my flock small. The two elders will be hitting three years this summer so i'll be trying to hatch a daughter from each in case predation or illness takes them.
I will be giving those ladies extra vitamins "poly vi sol" and mixing calf manna into their feed about a month before gathering hatching eggs from them.
Both old girls lay eggs over 65grams but that has always been their normal so I don't expect issues, of course I may have some but that is just how it goes.

 

[Eggscaping]

Well said, @Eggscaping !
Are you a mediator in real life?

Thanks. I had a position before retiring where I was the one they sent angry customers to. I'm an old hippy, so I'm all about peace and love and all that karmic stuff.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

I cull mine after two years whenever egg production slacks. I use them for meat as they are dual purpose birds.

 

[Trux]

When I end up with cockerels, I try to take care of them at or before 12 weeks as they ar still fairly tender. Beyond that they become a stew bird that takes a long hot bath to make them edible.I ended up with 5 last year, 4 went to freezer camp and one got re homed.