🐔 Hens 8+ Years Old - What Contributed to Their Longevity?

[Elle111]

Yep, chicken spa sounds about right. With a built in maid/servant. Them girls got it made! Lol

Did you ever do necropsies on your chickens that passed? Would be interesting to know their causes of death, since your chickens all reach such high ages.

 

[dirkandlorie]

Did you ever do necropsies on your chickens that passed? Would be interesting to know their causes of death, since your chickens all reach such high ages.

No, I could never have my babies chopped up and taken apart for curiosities sake. I do know Sassy and Mac both had heart attacks and death was instantaneous. Betty just slowed way down and passed in her sleep in my arms. Grace had eyp, she should never have been laying eggs at 10 years old! All those girls were age 10 or over. My 13 year old cochin with mobility issues fell on Bertha and smothered her, she was 9 1/2. the youngest of all my chickens to pass. Mac and Grace were black sex links, Sassy an Easter egger, Betty a gold sex link, Bertha a barred rock, and Heather the cochin. A lot of different breeds, all living long lives. I can't buy into the theory that genetics causes so many to die at 4 or 5 years old when experience shows me otherwise. Was hoping we could find a common denominator in this thread that pointed to why

 

[Elle111]

No, I could never have my babies chopped up and taken apart for curiosities sake. I do know Sassy and Mac both had heart attacks and death was instantaneous. Betty just slowed way down and passed in her sleep in my arms. Grace had eyp, she should never have been laying eggs at 10 years old! All those girls were age 10 or over. My 13 year old cochin with mobility issues fell on Bertha and smothered her, she was 9 1/2. the youngest of all my chickens to pass. Mac and Grace were black sex links, Sassy an Easter egger, Betty a gold sex link, Bertha a barred rock, and Heather the cochin. A lot of different breeds, all living long lives. I can't buy into the theory that genetics causes so many to die at 4 or 5 years old when experience shows me otherwise. Was hoping we could find a common denominator in this thread that pointed to why

 

[Elle111]

It's not just curiosity, it could potentially concern your other chickens. All the breeds you have/had have the reputation of being robust breeds, so I do think that partly determines their longevity. I've had a lot of silkies (just because I'm so fond of them) but a large part of them died of congenital diseases (necropy showed); nothing you can influence with care or feed. But I do agree with you good care can make a huge difference.

 

[BDutch]

. I can't buy into the theory that genetics causes so many to die at 4 or 5 years old when experience shows me otherwise. Was hoping we could find a common denominator in this thread that pointed to why

This is an interesting theory and maybe you are right we should consider ither factors too.

I know a small research (pilot study) with chicks and two types op feed pointed out the chick who got organic feed were healthier. But the pilot was too small to be trustworthy. And the commercial farming industry wouldn’t succeed this pilot bc they didn’t like the results.
(Source : Louis Bolk and TNO research institutes in the Netherlands, Zembla/Vara independent TV broadcasted a documentary about this in my country). They only measured health and growth, not longevity.