Why!!?!?!?!?!??!?!?

[speckledhen]

If you can afford to feed aging hens who aren't laying, that's perfectly fine, and no one has any right to make you feel guilty for doing so. If you want to euthanize them and make soup, that's fine, too. It's personal choice, both valid.

Mine are still laying at about 5 years old so they're still earning their keep just fine. Most don't live much longer than that anyway so I seriously doubt I'll be feeding them for years and years without them producing something in return. They can also be turned out to free range and get food on their own more and more as they lay less and less. There are ways to offset feed costs.

 

[inohio]

from a web site "Chickens usually don't simply "stop" laying eggs when they get to a certain age, but they will lay fewer as they get older. That said, most laying breeds will lay more or less productively in backyard terms for five or seven years. We know of one ancient buff orpington cross who still lays an egg occasionally at 17 years old!! "

So the 3+ thing seems a bit young if you're not doing factory farming. On the other hand, chickens are very good at breaking up manure and keeping down bugs around barns. Maybe rehome chickens to barn duty once they quit laying? But then you're guaranteed to get predators as well.