One less Chook - did the dirty deed :(

[Glutton4...]

It's very very sad, but after two weeks of egg-eating the decision was made, and Mrs Shuttlecock bum was despatched earlier today .

I had caught her in the act every day for the last few days, and had my suspicions before that, as her face was usually covered in yolk. At first it was only the softies, but recently she had started eating perfectly good eggs, and this week had gone up to at least three eggs a day! This morning she was alternately feeding from two eggs, with a third pecked open but not yet being eaten.

My wonderful, brave DH did the deed, having read how to do it properly first, and it was quick and painless. Although he did say you have to pull a lot harder than he thought you would.

You may think me mean to do this, but three or four eggs a day, when you're selling them to pay for their feed, equates to nearly a sack of feed a week, and it only takes another hen to start copying the habit then what's the point of keeping them in the first place?

Anyway, the deed is done. We won't eat her as there was hardly enough meat on her for a sarny! I've had a good cry, now I'm off to knock her off Snadgers list.

Cheers.

[MaureenHall]

To be perfectly honest I really think you did the right thing! After all other methods have failed, egg-eating is a really hard if not impossible habit to break and as you so rightly say, once the others see what's happening and get a taste for fresh eggs, then you'll be left with no chooks and no eggs either. Will you get another couple to fill the gap she's made?

Sorry you feel rotten about it, but it had to be done {{{{{{{{{{huggles}}}}}}}}}}}

[Glutton4...]

Thanks Aunty Mo, I'll stick with 19 for now - it's enough really (my name's not Hayley lol!)

She was one of the White ones I got at Christmas, and the first I've 'lost' so far, which made the decision harder somehow . That's it I'm snivelling again now...

[RichmondHens]

Don't feel bad about it Glutton, I would have done the same thing. As you say, you cannot risk the others copying.

[FionaH]

you did the right thing hon

[Hashette]

Hi Glutton

Don't feel bad, that decision must have been incredibly hard to make, but like everyone else has said, you'd have ended up with the rest copying. Have a good cry, it was quick, painless and she wouldn't have known a thing

[HayleyB]

Thanks Aunty Mo, I'll stick with 19 for now - it's enough really (my name's not Hayley lol!)

...

*splutter splutter sqwark

{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}

[SarzWix]

Oh, how horrid for you But you gave her a good go to get over it, and if she'd got to the point of scoffing 3 at a time...! Well done for being brave enough to go through with it (((((hugs))))), hope you feel better soon xxx

[Hilary B]

Right decision, however hard. Being more accustomed to occasional brutal necessity, I'd probably have done it a week earlier....... (and I'd still have felt bad about it afterwards)

[Nicos]

Yup- right thing to do.
And...I hope you've plucked her etc???

when we get our Marans I'll eat any gals when they age/eat eggs- as they are a breed good for eggs and eating.
We're having our 2lb cockerel tomorrow..size clearly doesn't matter!

[RichmondHens]

Yes, we eat anything that has died by our hand. The odd one that has succumbed to an unidentified "problem" we have NOT eaten, just in case. But anything injured, or that has something like a prolapse (ie not an infectious disease or similar) can go in the pot, same as the cocks.

[Hilary B]

old laying hens are sometimes not worth the bother of plucking, if they have got thin (as some do, and some don't) but if they are plump, they make a tasty chicken stew/soup.
For the 'lazy way' of using one, skin and remove the best bits (breast and legs) rather than plucking. The skin has little culinary use in an older bird, and it is MUCH quicker to skin rather than pluck!