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The old timer at the feed store changed how I treat my flock
I was buying oyster shell at Tractor Supply last Friday and this guy in his 70s saw me grab a bag and said 'you know they need grit too, right?' I told him I already give them both but he pulled out his phone and showed me a photo of his 12 year old hen named Dottie. How long have some of you kept a single hen alive that still laid eggs?
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gavine4122d ago
Respect the old timer's enthusiasm but I gotta disagree with putting that much stock in one extreme example. A 12 year old hen laying eggs is like finding a unicorn with a golden horn, not really a benchmark for what most of us should expect. My flock averages 3-4 good laying years before production drops off hard, and keeping them past that for sentimental reasons is fine but it's not practical advice for someone trying to manage a healthy laying flock. Genetics and luck play a huge role there, not just grit and oyster shell. Honestly I'd rather cull and replace with younger birds than try to squeeze eggs out of a senior citizen hen, lol.
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parkerkim22d ago
You ever had a hen that just kept laying past year 5?
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