Retirement suits a hen that is fed, sheltered, and left in her flock. She has stopped laying, and that is expected at her age; her needs now are comfort, access, and being watched a little more closely than the younger hens around her. She still needs her place in the flock, the company of other hens, and a daily routine she can manage without competing hard for every part of it. Small adjustments, made early and adjusted as she changes, keep an old hen content for a long time after her last egg.
Easier Access Around the House and Run
Roosting comes first: either lower her perch or build step-up access to it. An older hen with stiff joints cannot always make the flight up to a high perch, and the drop down at dawn can jar legs that no longer land softly. A perch set lower, or a ramp or stacked steps up to the usual perch, lets her roost with the flock at night instead of sleeping on the floor in the droppings zone. Check where she actually sleeps for a few nights after the change; a hen still on the floor may need the step arrangement lowered again or moved nearer the pop hole she uses.
Apply the same thinking to feed and water. A drinker she can reach without stretching up, feed scattered at ground level as well as in the raised feeder, and a route across the run without steep ramps or slippery boards all reduce the daily effort of being old. Afterward, watch her use each change; access only counts if she is genuinely using it.
Feeder Watching and Vent Mites
Feeders need watching, because younger, busier hens often shoulder an older bird away, and an elderly hen rarely fights back for long. If she is being moved off, feed her separately for part of the morning, or set a second feeder where she can eat undisturbed, and confirm daily that she has eaten her fill rather than assuming flock feeding covers her. Losing condition quietly at the feeder is the pattern this watching exists to catch.
Part the feathers around the vent on a regular rhythm and look for clusters of tiny mites, crusty skin, or reddened, dirty feather bases. An older hen grooms and dust-bathes less vigorously, so mites gain ground on her faster than on a young bird, and an unchecked burden drags her condition down. Any treatment decision belongs with a vet; your part is spotting the signs early, noting them, and keeping her comfortable.
Weight by Hand, Judged as a Trend
Check her weight by hand on a regular rhythm, lifting her and running a hand over her breast. Feel how much muscle covers the breastbone: a hen in fair condition has a padded, rounded feel, while a sharp, prominent bone with little cover means she is thinning. One handling tells you little; the value is in the trend across weeks, and a slow decline reads very differently from a sudden drop, which deserves prompt attention and a vet call if she also eats less, withdraws, or seems unwell.
Her comfort and weight belong in the flock's Pet Passport records on KinsLe, entered briefly each time: perch change made, feeder behavior seen, vent check result, weight feel in plain words. Judged as a trend, those entries show whether each adjustment is holding her steady. Written beside the flock's other records, the Pet Passport file on KinsLe gives her retirement the same careful attention her laying years received.