Let me start by saying I would rather chickens had a good life than just a long life, but a good, long life is my ideal. My family keeps chickens for eggs but also as pets and those who don’t lay stay until they pass away or need to be humanely dispatched for health reasons.
I know that for those keeping chickens purely for egg production or meat won’t be seeking to maximise the lifespan of their chickens, but I’d love to hear from those with ageing chickens about what you think is key to your success? Our chickens live with my parents and they never really make it to an old age, but my parents think their oldest chickens are ancient and essentially just expect most not to live past a few years. They do have a good life but I’ve tried to explain that hens can live 10+ and even way beyond in some cases, if they are well-managed.
The oldest hens in our flock are now 5 years and a few months old - these are homebred and I am sure that is the key to their survival, perhaps because they have good immunity to the things present in the area? They are also crossbreeds, the rooster was a Cuckoo Maran and the hen was a CLB hybrid of some sort. We had 6 originally and lost one earlier this year, so all of them have lived to 4 or 5 as a minimum. Our other hens were either shop-bought as adults, given to us by people who couldn’t care for them or are rescue hens from a battery farm. None of these tend to live beyond a few years with us (I don’t expect the rescues to live long anyway).
I have various opinions on the management of the flock but can’t control things exactly when I don’t live there. I would be happy to hear from those of you with older chickens about what you do on a day to day basis to care for them and why you think yours live to a good age! I am sure genetics and luck play a part but I think some of you have some older ladies and gents who are also a testament to your great care.
I know that for those keeping chickens purely for egg production or meat won’t be seeking to maximise the lifespan of their chickens, but I’d love to hear from those with ageing chickens about what you think is key to your success? Our chickens live with my parents and they never really make it to an old age, but my parents think their oldest chickens are ancient and essentially just expect most not to live past a few years. They do have a good life but I’ve tried to explain that hens can live 10+ and even way beyond in some cases, if they are well-managed.
The oldest hens in our flock are now 5 years and a few months old - these are homebred and I am sure that is the key to their survival, perhaps because they have good immunity to the things present in the area? They are also crossbreeds, the rooster was a Cuckoo Maran and the hen was a CLB hybrid of some sort. We had 6 originally and lost one earlier this year, so all of them have lived to 4 or 5 as a minimum. Our other hens were either shop-bought as adults, given to us by people who couldn’t care for them or are rescue hens from a battery farm. None of these tend to live beyond a few years with us (I don’t expect the rescues to live long anyway).
I have various opinions on the management of the flock but can’t control things exactly when I don’t live there. I would be happy to hear from those of you with older chickens about what you do on a day to day basis to care for them and why you think yours live to a good age! I am sure genetics and luck play a part but I think some of you have some older ladies and gents who are also a testament to your great care.
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