Red Stars, how many years have yours laid

[James Papin]

I am hoping that anyone who has, or has had Red Star hens can tell me if they lay for more than 2 to 3 years.....I have also read they do not live very long. Thanks for any information you can give.

 

[chrissynemetz]

I've had them lay up until around five years or so. Not nearly as many eggs as in the first two or three years, but still a few eggs a week.
My neighbor has two elderly red sex link hens, one is 7 and one is 10. Neither of them lay anymore though.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Life expectancy is short due to the high egg production in first few years. They tend to become egg bound and die spring of third year. The breeding for high lay and large eggs is why they are culled when starting molt second year fall. It's better to dispatch and use the meat rather than feed them all winter to have many perish in spring.