When to cull older slower egg laying hens?

[gkeesling]

My hens are going into their 2nd year of egg laying. I've heard that hens start slowing down a lot in their 3rd or 4th year. I don't want to keep hens that have cut their egg laying by about 1/2 when that time occurs. What do you do with your hens that are 4 years old or so? At first I thought about butchering them and using them for chicken and noodle chickens, but I'm wondering if they might be to tough for even that when they are 4 years old.

 

[Jeeper1540]

I have my chickens as egg layers, but also as pets, so even if they completely stop laying i will keep them until the die of natural causes.

From what i have read, chickens can lay most of their lives, but they do start to slow down. like i said, i wouldnt cull them, but if you have them just for eggs, go ahead when they slow down.

i have no idea what to make with the chickens. we only culled one and it wasnt even a year. it tasted much better than store bought though!