Half of my hens are second year layers. The other half are just now starting. So to my way of thinking, I would like to continue on like this, each year hatching my hens that would be next year's layers, retaining the last year's hens, and stewing the 2 year olds.
That said, it will be difficult come butchering time. My two year olds are the BO hens I started with. Having had them this long, I am quite emotionally attached to them. They have been such good gals, so sweet natured and faithfully laying for us. I am quite realistic but these little ladies will be much harder to butcher than the roosters we have raised and processed...I suppose because with the roosters I always had in my mind that they were raised for the table.