When do you turn your laying hens into stew?

[AndrewOSpencer]

I suppose it depends on the breed, but when do you usually see a production drop in eggs? At what age do you butcher hens who's egg production has dropped? etc.

thanks in advance

[Honeybadgeress]

would REALLY like to know on this one ALSO!!!

[chickenista]

With the heritage breed birds I usually see a drop in production in the late 3rd year.
Let's say that they hatch in the spring, then they lay that fall, slow down in the winter, pick back up for spring and summer.
Then they moult that next fall.
Pick back up for spring and summer, moult, pick back up and moult and that is about the end.
I try to butcher before they start getting old hen skinny.

And if you cook them covered and low and slow in the oven with a little water in teh bottom, then they are as tasty and tender as young roosters.

[Sawmill Jim]

Well the wife names ours so they grow old an die . So never .

[crispin]

Originally Posted by Sawmill Jim

Well the wife names ours so they grow old an die . So never .

That is the case at my house too.

[FCLady]

We do ours at 2-3 years old too, depending one how "slow" they get. We just butcher and grind the meat for chicken patties. Cook the rest off the bone for soup, broth etc.

[hiddensprings]

I do mine after their 2nd laying year, so before they turn 3.

[mare]

i dont name mine but i get kinda attached. i raise chickens for butchering but dont get attached to them

[Awnry Abe]

Originally Posted by Sawmill Jim

Well the wife names ours so they grow old an die . So never .

Same. DD runs the henhouse, and you would think I suggested killing something on the critically endangered list to ask her for an out-of-production hen. I am lucky to pry a rooster from her. The only reason I get one of those is if they don't treat her girls right. The odd thing is, the predators seem to keep the age of the flock relatively young. An old girl is rare around here, I suppose.

[Breezy]

I do ours the same as Chickenista...when they begin molting. I can them.

[J.T.M.]

Originally Posted by Sawmill Jim

Well the wife names ours so they grow old an die . So never .

Originally Posted by crispin

That is the case at my house too.

Originally Posted by Awnry Abe

Same. DD runs the henhouse, and you would think I suggested killing something on the critically endangered list to ask her for an out-of-production hen. I am lucky to pry a rooster from her. The only reason I get one of those is if they don't treat her girls right. The odd thing is, the predators seem to keep the age of the flock relatively young. An old girl is rare around here, I suppose.

~ blush ~
Im to blame at my homestead .We are down to our last hen and she is so old she hasnt laid an egg in ....... maybe 4 + years. She still squats when the Tom Turkey walks by , but hes pushing 15 yrs. old .so barring someone droping a blue pill and him picking it up , I think shes safe

[jwal10]

Before winter after the 2nd year of laying. We put them in the pressure cooker for chicken pot pie and chicken and dumplings....James

[ChristieAcres]

Next time, I'll be using your tips. This last time, we had hungry pigs, very little time, so the pigs got the boiled chicken stews. DH dispatched them, cooked 'em feathers and all in a big pot on the crab cooker outside for an hour. Often, he would toss in whatever extra veggies we had, large squash, etc..., allow it all to cool, then the pigs got it with everything else we fed them. Before I get a comment...pigs are Omnivores, not Vegetarians by nature... But reading this thread has me determined to see how the older chickens taste using the tips.

[chickenista]

http://www.amazon.com/Granite-Ware-0...d_sim_sbs_hg_1

I use a roaster pan kind of like this, except thrift store bought.
I place 2 of the old girls in with half an apple or onion in the cavities.
Some garlic, salt/pepper, thyme or rosemary sprinkled all over them and
about a cup of water poured into the bottom of the pan.
I cook on 250* or so until the whole house smells like chicken, but I let them go for hours.
So tender that they almost fall off the bone. ANd they are nice and juicy too.
But I do use them more for chicken pot pie or hot adn spicy chicken over rice etc..

[rod44]

We can ours after a couple lays. Best tasting chicken ever. J roll in flower and fry up untill hot or put in soup right out of jar.

http://s384.photobucket.com/user/Rod...00668.jpg.html

There is one however that never gets butchered. The grandson's pet one.

http://s384.photobucket.com/user/Rod...09774.mp4.html

[J.T.M.]

Ya Rod , shes a keeper

[motdaugrnds]

Hmmmm My chickens are Buff Orpingtons and White Wyandottes. I've had them now going on 4 yrs and this summer I've been overrun with eggs...so why aren't mine stopping their laying?

[hiddensprings]

Originally Posted by motdaugrnds

Hmmmm My chickens are Buff Orpingtons and White Wyandottes. I've had them now going on 4 yrs and this summer I've been overrun with eggs...so why aren't mine stopping their laying?

Chickens will lay longer then 2 years, but their production tends to decline each year. I sell eggs so I need high production. If the girls slow down, they aren't earning their keep.

[wy_white_wolf]

Grandma used to put them in the pot when they slow down enough to catch.

WWW

[ldc]

Had neighbors a longtime ago whose hens were still laying in their 12th year!