When to cull old hens??

[ShrekDawg]

I like eggs and chicken meat!!
Keeping chickens for good eggs and meat not grown in factories.
Also have limited space and resources, pet budget goes to my pup.

I’ve been wanting to try meat birds but I don’t think I would be able to cull them and my parents think it’s kind of gross or mean or whatever anyway so I haven’t. But maybe one day. But I truly don’t know that I’d ever get over it. I still think about the few animals that I’ve accidentally killed. Let alone purposely killing something. But I hate factory farms so much so it’s hard. :/ might start looking for local meat maybe. But that gets costly. But I can’t raise my own atm and hate supporting factory farms so idk.

And good point! I spend a lot of my money on the house pets too, dog and cat. And even now without the dog, I spend some on DB&FSIL’s dogs.

What kind of dog do you have?

It's pretty easy to assess for production.....vent condition, comb condition, overall appearance, eye ring/beak/legs, etc.

Can you please elaborate? I have never heard of the eye ring/beak/legs thing and am curious. I know the comb thing, like if it’s red they’re usually laying, and obviously if they’re molting or otherwise in horrible feather condition or health, they won’t lay, but have never heard of the other thing and am curious. Also heard of the vent thing but never heard the specifics.

 

[Mosey2003]

It would be interesting to know the ages of those who advocate the termination of life after the reproductive ability diminishes, or stops. I mean, after all as a society and species we don't want any freeloaders.

I'm 34 years old currently.

I do not place livestock in the same category as humans. Rather ridiculous to do so, in my opinion.

 

[Shadrach]

I'm 34 years old currently.

I do not place livestock in the same category as humans. Rather ridiculous to do so, in my opinion.

Fair enough. I'm not sure if I want to even ask what you believe the differences are.

 

[Mosey2003]

Fair enough. I'm not sure if I want to even ask what you believe the differences are.

They're not people. If you choose to treat them as pets and never eat them, that's totally fine with me. But they are also animals that are socially acceptable to eat, and some of us are going to eat them. The fact remains that it's not appropriate to eat grandpa once he's old and infirm.

 

[Shadrach]

They're not people. If you choose to treat them as pets and never eat them, that's totally fine with me. But they are also animals that are socially acceptable to eat, and some of us are going to eat them. The fact remains that it's not appropriate to eat grandpa once he's old and infirm.

Oh I eat them. I just don't kill them because they've become biologically unproductive.
As I wrote earlier, the oldies serve a function in the chicken keeping arrangements I have here, much as oldies do in many species.
What I was trying to suggest is that if you do free range a flock or have a large contained flock the oldies may be worth their weight by providing stability and knowledge. Just as an example, there is nothing like a senior rooster to keep the more enthusiastic juniors from mating with the hens every time he gets the urge.
If you keep a flock purely to exploit for meat and eggs then killing the hens at two years old seems to be the most productive practice as the egg factories and barns have proven over the years.

 

[Mosey2003]

Yes, but you could have made your points about older birds' value without adding judgment to those who won't or can't do the same. But again, you use words like "exploit" in order to elicit an emotional response.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

I don't cull my old timers, either. I bury them on my farm when they pass. I could never eat an animal that I have loved and cared for. My husband is a hunter and I have no problem eating an animal that I haven't met or raised. We even buy a half pig a year from a local farmer.....But one of my girls???? Heck no! However, I do not judge those that do.......I come from a family of farming and can understand....

 

[kwhites634]

They're not people. If you choose to treat them as pets and never eat them, that's totally fine with me. But they are also animals that are socially acceptable to eat, and some of us are going to eat them. The fact remains that it's not appropriate to eat grandpa once he's old and infirm.

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

 

[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

 

[kwhites634]

Not unless your plane goes down in the mountains

Gotcha! Good to know