[in the hills]

Yes, in general they are getting on a bit by 2/3 yrs old but our oldest hybrid was a black rock who lived until she was 10 yrs old  .... so still varies a lot. Have an old hybrid here now who is about 7/8 yrs old. Don't think she has laid for a few years now though    ..... probably should have gone in the pot a long time ago. 


I know it sounds awful but if you can only keep a few hens then keeping relatively short lived hybrids can be a good thing ..... lay really well and consistently, can live out there lives with you and you can replace them a couple at a time as needed and you have a constant supply of fresh eggs. Well .... it's one way of looking at it.

[Marches Farmer]

Unless a bird is exceptional in some way, or a reliable broody, we sell all our last year's hatch in the Autumn and the current year's hatch will begin laying then and lay through their first winter.  We sell eggs from the farm gate so consistent production is important.

[fiestyredhead331]

it sure was a lean winter in the egg dept, not one egg from 50 chooks for a few weeks there but they moulted something terrible just before Christmas and are now back on track. Just shows how nature recylces all by itself, all the chicken feathers were picked up by the wee nesting birds was sooooo cute to see these little birds with a beak full of feathers