The older hen in your flock might be laying less, but don’t be too quick to sell or cull. Commercial chickens are typically called at around two years because their sole purpose is to lay eggs. Feed costs begin to outweigh profit at the two-year point. In a backyard flock, however, getting fewer eggs is not a disaster. And if you want to raise some chicks, the older hen is a clear winner. Even if you don’t want babies, those senior citizens can still be useful.
Older Hens are Healthy
Older birds survive to get that way because they have good immune systems. Take avian influenza – wild birds are the reservoir for that disease and many others. A backyard flock is not in a biosecure facility, so wild birds interact with the flock. Chickens that are older have survived infections or didn’t get sick in the first place as their bodies fought off the pathogens. Good immunity in the hen is particularly important if you want to raise your own replacements.
Broodiness and the Older Hen
Broodiness – the tendency to “set” and raise chicks – has unfortunately been bred out of most modern chickens. Even in breeds that are supposed to set, my experience over the last 40-odd years is that fewer of them actually do so. However, I have found the older hens are more likely to become broody. By older I mean at least two years old. My Cochins tend to hit that sweet spot around three. Older hens are also more successful brooders and mothers as they have experience raising chicks.
The Educational Factor
Young chickens learn a lot from the older members of the flock. Obviously, mama is the one who teaches the new babies the basics, such as what to eat and drink, when to go to roost and so on. But I’ve watched older hens teach pullets how to build nests, brood eggs or find the coop again after a day of free ranging. The older hen is often the first to try an unfamiliar food and teach the young hens to eat it. She also models behavior, teaching young hens how to act with higher-ranked members of the flock.
Other Benefits
Since she doesn’t have to take time to lay eggs, the aged hen can focus on activities such as eating bugs. Her food costs go down because she’s foraging. Put her in a small mobile coop (chicken tractor) and move her frequently to help control pests. She can also help you get a garden bed ready as she scratches for her food. If you make pets of your chickens, the aging hen will often become more affectionate with you. Some older hens become good sentries and alert the flock to danger. So don’t be too quick to eliminate the older hen.
