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[dancingcat]

Hi all I am a complete beginner when it comes to chickens. However, I have been offered some rescued chickens which I have now been informed they are 'end of lay' does this mean they will not lay eggs anymore.

 

Please can someone advise me about this as I do not want to get chickens that are not going to lay as I was looking forward to some eggs and maybe hatching some.

 

Kind regards Lynne

 

PLEASE CAN SOME1 REPLY TO MY MESSAGE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS I REALLY NEED TO KNOW MANY MANY THANKS.

[Christian]

Are they ex battery hens Lynne?

 

If they are and have been in cages for a year, then they will continue to lay for a while yet, but not enough for the 'business' to make it viable to keep them.

 

Welcome to the forum by the way

 

Will move this to the chickens section so more people see it.

 

All the best

[dancingcat]

Hi Christain

 

Many thanks for your reply they are not ex battery they are from a free range farm and were going to be slaughtered for dog food, so would this mean they would of stopped laying altogether.

 

Many thanks Lynne

[Yolky]

I think end of lay to a farmer is 1 year old. I would say that means that they don't lay one a day like they would of but they should still lay.

[Avalon Fantasy]

Welcome to the forum, perhaps your first port of call is to ask what the people or person means that is wishing to sell to you.. perhaps ask how old the chickens are?

Many places would say something has come to the *end of its viable life* beacause they are less likely to be continuous layers... perhaps they are not so sprightly, all manner of things could induce a producer to say their hens were *end of lay*

I would if it were me ask them to be honest and tell you what that in fact means.

Best of luck!!!

[chelsea]

yes, farmers dont keep them much past a year.

 

Hens will still lay eggs, but they are not in their "prime" as such. We have a 2 year old rescue hybrid hen, she does lay eggs but not every day.

[dancingcat]

Hi everybody many thanks for all your messages and I didn't realise I had not posted message on the chicken forum part.

 

Just to say that these chicken are rescue chickens so I do not know any information about them as they are coming from Brighton Animal Action and where on a free range fram. They have put that they are end of lay chickens and they were going to be slaughtered for dog meat.

 

This is all the information I have they are Rhode Island Reds.

 

Thank you all to welcoming me.

[Avalon Fantasy]

I know this is not subject related in a true sence but I was surfing and came across this set of You Tube chicken info... may be fun to have a wee look..

[dancingcat]

Hi Everyone again

 

Sorry about this, but do you think I should try and rescue some ex battery hens instead, as I would like some layers.

 

I would not want to take these hens on and have no eggs.

 

Please can someone advise.

 

Many many thanks Lynne

[Abbey Road Girl]

"End of lay" may be just as inaccurate as "point of lay". POL chickens may not lay eggs for as much as two months or more. EOL chickens may lay eggs for some time afterwards. If you want eggs produced under good conditions, then you can buy POL hens from Omlet or elsewhere.

 

The big chicken farmers only want the chickens in their most productive stage, but that doesn't mean that the hens are only fit for dog meat.

 

People who want to give somewhat worn-out chickens a good life without worrying about getting eggs will rescue ex-batts.

 

To each his (or her) own.

[chelsea]

 

I would not want to take these hens on and have no eggs.

 

 

It might be better if you want guaranteed eggs to buy POL hens from a breeder/omlet.

 

Ex batts do need extra special care when you get them, some may also not guarantee you an egg every day either, some of them are in really poor condition when they are rescued. Even so, many owners find it very rewarding to see an ex batt feather up and regain their health/live a life they should be living.

[JamesH]

All respect to those who would rescue ex-batts. I think this is a more worthy because as they haven't had any sun, sky or freedom.

 

Thinking about ex-freerangers though, would you not but organic free range eggs from the supermarket if you knew they would be slaughtered when they go into their big moult at 18 months? At least they've had a decent 18 months.

 

Would we have to retire all the free range birds. I don't think this is where we can go if we want to eat eggs. We're using grains to feed them and if they aren't producing eggs for us is it right to use resources in that way?

[dancingcat]

Hi everyone just got some more information about these chickens they are 80 weeks old according to my friend who also wants some and that they are at the end of offical lay.

 

And supermarkets won't take the eggs on after this age.

 

Any advice is greatly appreciated as I am sooooo new to this.

 

Thanks for all your comments at present am taking them on board.

 

Kind regards Lynne

[Joojoo]

Hi Lynne

 

80 weeks makes them about 18months then. From my limited knowledge I believe that they will still be laying but not every day. Hopefully someone else will come along and confirm this, and give you a rough idea how many eggs you could get a week.

 

Good Luck

[Lovemychooks]

I have rescued ex-batts before and they laid pretty much every day, they seemed to have a couple of days off a week but it was so lovely to watch them stratching about

[chickenlass]

If you have the facilites and a proper home for them why not give them a home anyhow [regardless of eggs or not]. If the need rescuing they need rescuing ...you could always get some younger regular laying hens later

[dancingcat]

Hi just to say these chickens are not ex battery chickens they are free range organic chickens so would this make a difference to them in their laying abilities.

 

They are 80 weeks old and have been informed they are at the end of their offical lay.

 

[Yolky]

Dancing cat if eggs are the main thing you want from the chookies then you might be best off going for POL birds as chelsea. Rescuing hens is something I am interested in but I felt that as I had no experience of looking after chickens that I would go for healthy hens so I can learn about them. maybe next year I will look into ex batts or other rescue hens. I need to get the husband to build me a walk in run first then the eglu and run will be free to fill lol!

[Egluntyne]

They will still be laying at 18 months.

 

Mine have all laid practically every day since they arrived in March.

[Motherhen3]

Hi,

 

Two of our girlies are 18 months old and generally lay 6 eggs per week each. I don't think it unfair to allow the odd day off!

 

We added two more girlies in June.....and after a month of gradual introductions they now roam around the garden as a small flock......although there is often 2 plus 2.

 

After a hard day at school......nothing beats letting them all out of their run, whilst I relax with a coffee and giggle at their antics.

 

Gosh I do hope that once I hit middle age I'm still appreciated.......

[superjules]

Rhode Island Reds are excellent layers and they will continue to lay you fantastic eggs for a good long while yet if you take them on. My gingernut, Daffodil, is now over 2 years old and lays a big 75g egg, 6 days a week.

 

How much are you paying for them?

[Hen Watch]

"Spent hens" is another term you might hear. Hens over 74+ weeks old (and that probably includes the free range ones you've been offered as well as ex battery hens) are no longer profitable to the industry as egg production declines after that time and they are sent off to slaughter (chicken pie, pet food etc).

 

I haven't got any myself to give any personal experience but the BHWT gives some general guidelines about what you can expect from an ex-batt, but bear in mind they will have had a harder life than a free range spent hen.

http://www.bhwt.org.uk/caring-for-battery-hens.php#nesting

 

But maybe you might want to start off with hybrid hens at Point of Lay then you will be guaranteed an egg supply.

[mayflower]

Hi, One of the main reasons why farmers get rid of their 80 week old chickens is not so much the laying potential but the size and shape of their eggs. When supplying eggs to supermarkets, the eggs...even though free range have to be a perfect egg shape, and have to be graded for size and appearance is all important to the customer. As the hens get older, they tend to produce eggs that are perfectly wonderful to eat, however, the egg shape may be elongated....as though they have paused for thought when laying!! Also, the shell, instead of being guaranteed smooth, may feel rough and the colour may vary, sometimes looks like they are tye dyed. There is absolutely nothing wrong with their eggs, just as good and healthy, and the hens can carry on laying for a few more years. Unfortunately, we still have a long way to go to educate the public into what real naural eggs actually look like. Until that time, even free range farmers will have to renew all their stock every 60 to 80 weeks. It is sad but that is the situation at present where, perfectly healthy hens are being slaughtered because they do not fulfil mythical expectations.

[Nature Chick]

Hi there

my hens are about 4 years old and I get one egg a day (not sure who from!) I think that they are both still laying so on average every other day - it is enough for me, one cake a week, eggs for weekend breakfasts and some to give as gifts!!

I certainly wouldn't consider my girls 'spent' however there has been some good advice - if eggs are your motivation POL may be more suitable although be prepared for lots of eggs!!!

[dancingcat]

Many many thanks to everyone who has posted a message on this thread it has been a great help to making my mind up over these chickens.