Where to retire old hens? (GA)

[Shadrach]

I take the view that others have stated. I've had the benefit of the eggs and the love of watching them day in day out. It's my responsibility to deal with their problems in old age.

 

[aart]

I grew up in America in a time when locking the door at night was an option, not a necessity.

What years and location was this?

I was asking @tycine...but they're not saying, eh?
Also curious, how long have you lived in Panama, and why did you move there??

 

[Ebony Rose]

I was asking @tycine...but they're not saying, eh?
Also curious, how long have you lived in Panama, and why did you move there??

I've been here close to 14 years. Moved here with my mother soon after my totally unexpected divorce (after 20+ years). As an adult, I had always dreamed of living "south of the border" as I became more and more disenchanted with what America is / was becoming. Turns out, she felt the same way, and suggested first Costa Rica, and later Panama to retire to; And away we went.

 

[ChickenThunderdome]

We have chickens simply to have chickens. They are entertaining and to an extent therapeutic. Couldn't imagine throwing them away after years of enjoyment/eggs simply because they stop producing.

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.

This is my thinking as well. You get chickens, you raise them and in return they give you eggs. But once they stop being a benefit the first thought is to dump them on someone else? Glad humans are not treating each other in such a way. As annoying as it is for you, they have their own little chicken lives they've established wherever you are and likely if they are that old won't be around in another year.

If they are near the end of their time, make sure they have an enjoyable remaining time here among the living. Don't put them through the trauma of separating them or dumping them somewhere else.

 

[Ebony Rose]

I think I'm gonna quit following this particular thread, the OP posted a single time, the opening post and hasn't responded one way or the other since. I'd hate to see this thread to turn into something ugly. I don't want the OP to feel picked on for managing their flock the way that they see fit; they specifically mentioned not being able to afford the space for the non-productive birds which infers that they're bringing younger birds in to replace the old.
My personal views on how to manage my flock involves eating my 'spent' hens, but that doesn't mean that the OPs views are any less valid.

 

[Kabootar]

?? 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 don't want to start an argument, but in my country farmers sell their animals to small butchers who sell meat in the bazaars and people buy and eat from them all the time and never get sick. We don't have huge processing plants regularly inspected by food inspectors. Government Schools procure vegetables, eggs and milk from us directly for 'mid day meal' scheme.

 

[WallyBirdie]

I've got 3 remaining girls of what was a 5 girl flock (lost 2 this year) and 2 of them don't lay at all any more and 1 lays maybe every other day. They're still healthy, sweet girls but I can't keep them around if they're not producing - I live in downtown atlanta and just don't have the space.

I've heard of farms where you can "retire" spent chickens to live out their remaining days. Does anyone know of one of these around the Atlanta area or is there a way to look this up? My attempts at google searches didn't show anything.

Thanks for any help!

I wish I could help but all I can do is wish you luck. I understand your predicament. I don't eat my birds and I have a few that hardly lay anymore. They've more or less become much-loved lawn decorations. I free range them, and they spend all day happily roaming and foraging. But they don't really produce, and I won't be eating them.
There are people who retire chickens, but I'm not sure how you'd go about finding them. You might try posting local ads, but even then it's hard to guarantee that someone won't use your birds for a meal.

 

[Acre4Me]

in my country

Key point to your post. Different country, different customs and ways.

We don't have huge processing plants regularly inspected by food inspectors

In the US we have both small and large processing plants. There are even small processors that will process chickens for backyard keepers, or process deer from a hunter, or a cow for the "backyard" keeper.

never get sick

That you know of. Not likely there are really very good stats on this, so likely that is just anecdotal information.

 

[Kabootar]

Key point to your post. Different country, different customs and ways.



In the US we have both small and large processing plants. There are even small processors that will process chickens for backyard keepers, or process deer from a hunter, or a cow for the "backyard" keeper.



That you know of. Not likely there are really very good stats on this, so likely that is just anecdotal information.

Well I still think consuming a freshly processed meat is much safer than a meat which is a few months old, specially if you don't use enough spices or even salt.

I just looked up that there are 48 million cases of food poisoning in the States and 100 million cases in India each year. Considering the population of both countries the rate is much higher in the States.

 

[Folly's place]

Avoiding political discussions is a saving grace on this forum!!!
From a public health standpoint, nobody reports all food poisoning cases, because most people don't report to authorities or go to the doctor over 'stomach flu' unless they are very very sick.
It's not possible to really know anywhere...
Mary