Official BYC Poll: What Do You Do With Your Old/Retired Hens?

[PioneerChicks]

I sell off most of my hens to free up coop space for the youngers, but I did keep one hen to the age of 8 years old. She was the last of my first flock and I owe so much to her! But I had to humanly cull her because she was struggling. I don't expect to keep another hen so long again, but I don't regret keeping Dana.

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

My chickens are still just a few months older than a year old, and I know their plan for life ( if my parents agree) They will simply live out their life until they peacefully pass on their own. If they are sick and are suffering, then I will take them to the vet to be put down. I love my chickens, and have no intentions of ever culling them.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

More than five of our first flock of chickens lived to be 7+ years old. Our last girl from that batch is 8 years old and has cankles, a Speckled Sussex named Suki. We don't think she has ever layed an egg. She is first to the food dish and last to leave. She now puts herself away in a next box or on the hay floor of our smallest coop (where some of our banties go to bed). The other two pictures are Poof the Egger, age 7 and the perfect first chicken my daughter had (who layed her first egg the Friday before Easter 2013) ... The buff Silkie Fluffy. She was hit by a hawk at age 7+ but was still healthy. We miss her!

Poof!!

 

[The Birb King]

It kinda depends. They dont deserve to die after all their years of providing us eggs and companionship so we either re home them or keep em around as pets (They keep the younger girls in check

 

[The Birb King]

My chickens are still just a few months older than a year old, and I know their plan for life ( if my parents agree) They will simply live out their life until they peacefully pass on their own. If they are sick and are suffering, then I will take them to the vet to be put down. I love my chickens, and have no intentions of ever culling them.

Me too

 

[picklestheduck]

Here they are my pets, so they can live out their days here. Yes we use and sell their eggs and such but they do so much for us… including entertainment!! That I fell they deserve to stay. I’ve also got a few special needs birds who don’t have a “job” except for just being bossy and sassy to the rest of the flock

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

My flock is not even a year old yet. Initially my plan was to cull layers every 2 yrs BUT they are so lovable I changed my mind. They can go on garden duty and help me find wild raspberries in the woods forever

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

My flock is not even a year old yet. Initially my plan was to cull layers every 2 yrs BUT they are so lovable I changed my mind. They can go on garden duty and help me find wild raspberries in the woods forever

Exactly the same. I thought I typed that, lol

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

Exactly the same. I thought I typed that, lol

Exactly!!

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Exactly!!

Exactly exact. I think, lol