Excellent article, thank you!! 5 of my girls are older, and their laying has slowed down considerably just in the last year. They're still great to have around, I wouldn't think of doing anything but allowing them to happily live out their Hentirement years!
One thing to note: Winter laying naturally slows down, but for those who heat & light their coops, the hens will continue laying through winter. This prematurely ages them and expends the finite number of eggs they'll produce in their lifetime, as their bodies don't get to rest in the colder months. Plus I've found using heat lamps at night can cause egg yolk peritonitis, especially in older girls. I personally feel it's best to let nature's wisdom dictate their laying cycles, so I use natural light and keep the coop just warm enough that the chickens won't get frostbitten, using heated perches & heat pads that only kick on in freezing temps. My mature girls are thriving with this setup!
One thing to note: Winter laying naturally slows down, but for those who heat & light their coops, the hens will continue laying through winter. This prematurely ages them and expends the finite number of eggs they'll produce in their lifetime, as their bodies don't get to rest in the colder months. Plus I've found using heat lamps at night can cause egg yolk peritonitis, especially in older girls. I personally feel it's best to let nature's wisdom dictate their laying cycles, so I use natural light and keep the coop just warm enough that the chickens won't get frostbitten, using heated perches & heat pads that only kick on in freezing temps. My mature girls are thriving with this setup!
