Where to retire old hens? (GA)

[Ebony Rose]

In the US, this would not be a viable option. A food pantry would not be able to accept live or dead birds, nor home-processed birds. A food kitchen in a homeless shelter or similar would also not be able to accept live, dead, or home processed chickens. However, an individual could take the chickens and process them for their own use or for their friends/neighbors.

In a lot of ways, that's what's wrong with America these days; I want the America I grew up in, not this new monster that dictates my every bowel movement.

 

[Acre4Me]

In a lot of ways, that's what's wrong with America these days; I want the America I grew up in, not this new monster that dictates my every bowel movement.

?? I’m happy there are inspections on meats and cleanliness requirements when meats go into the wider consumer world. If I were in need of food via a soup kitchen, shelter, or food pantry I would be grateful that I would have confidence that the raw or cooked meat would have had to pass inspection and follow regs, so that I would not be as concerned about illness.

FWIW, many states allow small “processors” to process chickens or quail and sell direct to a consumer (up to a certain #per year) from your own doorstep. Put that same chicken into the wider market (and a middle man between the source and the consumer) and there comes regulations. Also, those regulations were borne out of the non-regulated situation you propose. So, first there were no regs, but the unscrupulous made it so that inspections, etc were required.

 

[slordaz]

If you have Facebook see if their are any local Chicken groups, here there are several that take in Retiring flock members and Special needs chickens.

They mostly want them for their bug eating abilities

 

[Ebony Rose]

?? I’m happy there are inspections on meats and cleanliness requirements when meats go into the wider consumer world. If I were in need of food via a soup kitchen, shelter, or food pantry I would be grateful that I would have confidence that the raw or cooked meat would have had to pass inspection and follow regs, so that I would not be as concerned about illness.

FWIW, many states allow small “processors” to process chickens or quail and sell direct to a consumer (up to a certain #per year) from your own doorstep. Put that same chicken into the wider market (and a middle man between the source and the consumer) and there comes regulations. Also, those regulations were borne out of the non-regulated situation you propose. So, first there were no regs, but the unscrupulous made it so that inspections, etc were required.

I totally get that. I'm just profoundly sad that things have gotten like this in America to make such regulation necessary. When I grew up, the milkman came three days a week and delivered fresh milk, cream, eggs, sometimes cheese right to the doorstep, and left it there, as he typically delivered at 4'something o'clock in the morning. The bread man drove past twice a week with fresh breads of all varieties and DOUGHNUTS of all ilk and manner. There was no store name on the truck, didn't need to be... everyone knew who sold the 'good' stuff, and everyone bought the 'good' stuff. The ice cream man came round every day during the height of summer, and parents didn't need to get his blood type and background check before allowing their child(ren) to spend their 10 cents on a Popsicle. Chances were good, that even though I grew up in the 'city', that my parents went to school with him... THAT is the America I miss. I grew up in America in a time when locking the door at night was an option, not a necessity. And I miss it.

 

[Ebony Rose]

If you have Facebook see if their are any local Chicken groups, here there are several that take in Retiring flock members and Special needs chickens.

They mostly want them for their bug eating abilities

A carefully worded advertisement on craigslist could suggest that they're free to a hobby farmer, someone that would welcome the bug controllers and the volunteers to hoe their garden and clean up after the rabbits, pigs and whatever livestock they have Of course, the ad would also indicate that these birds are from a retired, and otherwise unproductive flock (no longer, or scarcely laying). Let the prospective new owners know that they're not producing, and what these birds can give in return for their room and board... and take it from there.

 

[aart]

I grew up in America in a time when locking the door at night was an option

What years and location was this?

 

[slordaz]

What years and location was this?

lol I still remember it and will Turn 50 in a couple of months

 

[Ebony Rose]

What years and location was this?

lol I still remember it and will Turn 50 in a couple of months

I'm a bit older than you slordaz, and mostly grew up in California... and been everywhere since

 

[MROO]

What years and location was this?

Let's see ... until the late 1960's, rural Maryland and the DelMarVa Peninsula, for two and my grandmother's place on Michigan's UP, for another ... not anymore for any of them.
But, back to the OP's question ...we have a man locally who will process our 4H'ers retired and extra chickens. His wife turns them into soup and stew for her church's "Outreach Suppers." They feed the homeless and the "down-on-their-luck" for free once a week.

 

[BaaKaaawk]

I take in "worthless" birds on occasion and for my own birds, I personally feel like if they lay eggs for me for 3-4 years, that the least I can do is take care of them a few more past that. To each their own- if I could eat Hawkeye or Cali or Maria or Stormy or Snowflake or Connie or Tippie or .............. you get the point, I don't have the heart to eat my "pets" but I have zero problem with those who do. It's your choice.