end of life for chickens

[Ann Hippensteel]

What are city folks' experiences with disposal of egg-layers when their productivity wanes?

On the farm, we would butcher and use them for soup stock (not good eating as roasters or fryers).  My experience with butchering old egg-layers however, has led me to decide that the disagreeable work is not worth the meat obtained.

Another option on the farm is to just put them "out to pasture" and let the hawks and coyotes enjoy an easy meal.  This isn't possible in the city of course.

Keeping them as pets until they die of natural causes is an option.  They would still be producing manure for compost and could help consume undesirable garden insects.

What do others do?

Thanks,

Ann