Chicken bald back

[Angie]

With loosing my Blackrock/silkie this week i now don't get any regular eggs , and this was my reason for having my chooks. Sassy my welsummer is 5 and my leghorn is nearly the same age.

My SonIL has offered to do the needful and thinks i should start over, as having fresh eggs was my reason for having chickens, and my two old girls don't even lay once a week.

I know it makes sense but I feel awful. He says do it soon , so the WIR and cube can be stripped sanitised and ready for a fresh start while i can still get some growers before winter comes around.

What do you all think ? Am i being silly ?

[Eggasperated]

I understand your frustration re the egg situation but it seems a bit harsh disposing of two otherwise healthy chickens like that, I certainly wouldn't do it, I don't know what others think.

Can't you divide things up so you could get some new girls.

[jackian]

I would agree with eggasperated. When I wanted new girls because of lack of eggs I divided the run up for a couple of weeks for all the chickens to get to know each other.IIt is bad enough having to have pets put to sleep because they are in pain but don't think I could because of age . . Maybe being so old they would not ever mix ,maybe you could get them a small little coup to end out their days in another part of the garden if you have the space .

[Daphne]

You must do whatever feels right and if you are in two minds then I wouldn't cull because I'm sure you will feel bad afterwards, possibly for some time. I would do as the others suggest. If you get youngsters the old girls should certainly be in charge and there is no reason why you shouldn't end up with a happy, larger, productive group of girls

[jimnpaula]

Clearly you care about the 2 old girls as more than just egg machines, otherwise you wouldn't be asking this. I'm sure you could squeeze in a bunch of POLs without having to get rid of the old ladies - they don't eat so much when they don't lay....

[merlina]

Clearly you care about the 2 old girls as more than just egg machines, otherwise you wouldn't be asking this. I'm sure you could squeeze in a bunch of POLs without having to get rid of the old ladies - they don't eat so much when they don't lay....

 

my thoughts too

[gavclojak]

Soory if i sound harsh but My view i am afraid is you take the rough with the smooth and you must have known at some point they will slow down the egg production, i do understand you got them primarily to supply you with eggs but they are 5 and why not let them enjoy their retirement in peace, worse case senario try to find another home for them, but to cull....come on now...

[Chortle Chook]

When two old girls have got to the grand old age of 5 and are still healthy it seems harsh to shuffel them off eggs or no eggs I also think, as others have said, that deep down you think the same. So I say go with your real conscience as you'll have to live with yourself afterwards. If you really were keeping them just for eggs I think you'd have despatched them long ago as do the commercial egg producers

 

This is not to say that I don't understand the temptation but patience might be a virtue in this case

[Lulabellx1]

I agree. We have three older ex-batt's and our eggs were getting low, so we introduced some new POL hens for eggs. Introduction can be a bit tricky for a couple of weeks but mine have all settled down now. I understand that space might be a problem, but if that is the case then I would wait for nature take it's course. A chickens life expectancy is 5-6 years anyhow, so I'm sure it wont be too long till you find they have gone of to the great coop in the sky by themselves

[Millie-Annie]

I rescued Tallulah from next door because he wanted to cull her for the same reason. I know I couldn't do it, as I have just bought pure breeds, including a Welsummer, because I want them to live longer. Whatever you decide to do, may I suggest you either rescue ex-batts next time or get hybrids, as they don't live long once they stop laying.

[hopingforchickens]

I understand how frustrating it can be when the little darlings stop laying, but if you have the space I would separate the area for a while and get some new ones to go along side the old ones. I was dreading intros but I managed it in a 10x7 WIR. I sectioned off an area for the new ones inside the run and within a month they were happily living together. It can be done I'm of the opinion that as backyard hen owners we should keep our chickens passed their egg laying life...