Keeping Older Hens

Recently I read a blog post from My Pet Chicken about reasons for keeping older hens. There were excellent pointers, but I think a few more pros of keeping older hens are worth pointing out!

Meet Leopard the Easter Egger and Chocobo the Rhode Island Red:

Leopard 'hiding'

Chocobo sunbathing

 These two ladies are (at the time of this post) over 4.5 years old, and are the two remaining hens from our original flock of four from the local feed store. They've been with us as we've learned about chicken keeping and have been through the mistakes we've made, the exciting season changes, and even new chicks arriving!

 Neither lays much anymore, especially Leopard, whom we're certain has some kind of issue with her reproductive tract. She's consistently lay soft-shelled eggs despite additional calcium or other nutrients in their feed, and has a risk of prolapsed vent - a condition where tissue inside the vent is pushed outside.

But no matter how much or how little they lay, they're here to stay. Here are my husband and my reasons for keeping older hens after their laying years are done:

1. Pets

They are, put simply, our pets.

While I understand keeping chickens as purely livestock and 'processing' older hens, these two were never intended for the freezer from the get-go. Even after learning chickens live far longer than we expected (ten years isn't unusual, and there have been accounts of up to twenty), we had no intentions of viewing them as anything other than our pets. Even if they aren't the most cuddly of creatures.

Leopard, our Easter Egger, is always certain the camera will steal her soul

Chocobo loves the camera

2. Bug Catching!

No matter if they're laying or not, they're great bug catchers! Over the years they've refined their hunting skills to catch the most discerning of grasshoppers, spiders, and the occasional snail. Leopard has developed a taste for earwigs, and Chocobo has learned if she follows wherever I'm digging there's a greater chance for worms.

More worms?

3.  Lookouts

We free-range our girls - which does come with inherit dangers.

Hawks are the most common predator we have to watch out for, and our two older girls have survived their fair share of swooping strikes from above. As such, they've learned what to watch out for and are more apt to figure out when something flying above them is harmless (like a plane or seagull) or when they should become concerned.

And when they go scrambling, the newer girls know it's time to haul tail!

4. Where to roam

They know our yard, and know the best places to go to catch the most bugs, have the most cover, and where THE BEST dust bathing areas are. They are also content to stay within the yard, and not try jumping the fences to go exploring like they did in their younger days. Since they don't go up and out, the new girls don't either.


5. Keeping the peace

This might be their distinct personalities, but these older girls are all for picking on a healthy, active chicken. When one of the flock members is a little down, though, they put a stop to others picking on her. We recently dealt with a minor case of bumblefoot, and while one of our Jersey Giants could only hobble around for a couple days while her foot healed, Chocobo would chase any of the others who tried chasing the wounded Jersey Giant.

All bets are off when Chocobo is molting, though.

BFFs!

6. Reassurance that most treats won't kill them

Chickens think anything is a danger unless proven otherwise. This goes for watermelon, corn on the cob, and cucumbers. The older girls have been around the block and know a few of the things that are harmless.


7. Reassurance the lawnmower won't kill them

This backfires sometimes as Chocobo is SO certain that she won't move away for the lawnmower. Otherwise their presence reassures the younger girls the big scary green thing is okay from a distance.


8. Being comfortable around us

They know my husband and I bring treats, new hay, and a myriad of good things. They also know sometimes we bring bad things like leg mite foot sprays, bum baths, and wanting to pick up or pet them. They take the good with the bad and show the new girls we're okay to be around - for the most part.


Chocobo and Leopard are an integral part of the flock and our lives, and they will live out the rest of their natural days with us. Neither have gone broody - ever - so I'm not sure how they would deal with raising new chicks, but they are experienced with having newcomers throw the flock dynamics into chaos, and having other members leave for good (when the other two of the original flock unfortunately passed away).

They know a thing or two about life in our yard, and even if they don't like cuddling they still love to follow us around.

And we love having them.

They love dust bathing together

- K.F. Silver