Our hens are aging 😞

 I'm struck with the realization today that our girls are nearly to the end of their egg laying career. For the last several months their production has declined, where once we were getting a steady 7-8 eggs every day and even the occasional 9-10 egg day from our 8 girls we are now down to 1-2 eggs a day with the occasional 3-4 egg day. We knew it would happen yet still it takes us by surprise. Soon our girls will be replaced with young hens, ones who still lay vigorously, and due to the confines of our very limited space (presently we are urban homesteaders) our hens are rapidly approaching the day that they fill our bellies in soup rather than with eggs. 😞
I started this small flock knowing that I should not get attached because that was the eventual outcome for them, their purpose is to feed us, yet attached have I become. Now I find myself wishing that we had already found our forever homestead so we could simply add to our flock rather than replace our aging girls who have served us so well for so long.
If you have never been around a flock of chickens for an extended length of time my premature epitaph may seem ridiculous, but those who raise chickens know. Chickens are a kwerky little creature, each with its own distinct personality. A flock offers a million reasons to laugh daily, they give eggs, compaionship, and they even keep the bug population lower.
I love my chickens. How about you? Is anyone as attached to their girls as I am?

From the sunset homesteaders to you, God bless!