Introduce new birds or dispatch the originals?

[whizzylala]

Hi,
We have two chickens that lay very little. I have been saying that we will dispatch them and get some new ones but when it has come down to it I am a bit sentimental about them! Would you just bite the bullet and replace them or introduce two more. I have been looking into adding to them and it seems fraught with problems, just for me to not feel guilty!
We only have space for a maximum of four as it is an eglu (good sized run for them too, not just eglu run).
What would you do?

umm, we have two who are about 2.5yo now.

Both laid over the 1st winter, but last winter both stopped for a couple of months - luckily staggered so we only had about 3 weeks with no eggs at all.

Now one had been broody for a couple of months over the summer (and so not laying) and went straight from that to moulting (and not laying).
The other one is laying daily (maybe 13 out of 14 days).

If they had both stopped laying I would have no (sentimental) attachment to dispatching them and getting now ones (although I am not sure about the physical action of killing them).

I have thought about introducing another two, but I don't really want 4 birds.

I'm seeing how this winter / next spring for the moment.

I would keep the old ones.

when you introduce new ones, it's always a good idea to keep them separate when together, anyway. It might be worth trading in your eglu for a bigger coop (eglu cube, maybe? )

I could never despatch my hens just because they're no longer productive.
:(

How old are they?

We have 6, all this year's stock and only two or three are so far laying.

If they are older birds then it's up to you (eat them though - bit of a waste not to!) but if they're young then you'd be better off waiting.

It's been a very slow year for them apparently in terms of starting to lay.

Yes I'd get a bigger run too like Nickelbabe says.

Ours have 15 square metres between them - they recommend about two metres per chook so it's about right.

and it only took a week to build

Well they are 2.5 commercial hybrids and I have been told that they are unlikely to go back into lay - they have been laying about 5 between them a week for 6 months now so I don't expect them to get any better.
I have arranged with the farmer where I could get new ones that I will take the old ones and he will do the deed once we are gone!
There isn't an option of increasing to larger coop or more run to make sadly.
I can't keep them separate either.
I am concerned about the whole introducing new ones and the problems that may arise from that.

If I was getting that many eggs I'd be well pleased!!!

eggsactly....

we've got 3 left, and only get eggs from one of them - and they're small ones at that.

wouldn't despatch them just because of that. :(

Whizzy - Glad to hear your farmer can do it. We're in a similar position with a 2.5yo hybrid and, tbh, we have no problem with dispatching her and getting a new hen. Our plan was to keep her over winter as company for the other, younger, hen and to replace her in the spring. I was hoping our breeder would do as you describe.

I guess ours are pets more than utility birds, Nickelbabe.

God, I'd hate to be a farmer.

Thanks for all your thoughts, decided to go for it in the end and have three new chooks this evening. The farmer actually said mine looked gin good health so he is going to keep them with his older flock anyway so everyone is happy! (And I believe him!)

Oh that's a result

More of a trade-in than scrappage then! (sorry!)

Good, I'm glad they're staying alive. :)

It is hard to think of our chickens as disposable, and mine are definitely pets, not livestock (especially as the little gits darlings aren't earning their keep at the moment....

some farmers are now doing the rehoming thing with free range or barn birds, as they would still be despatched after their commercial life is over.