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

[rosemarythyme]

Im convinced you hit the nail saying these two things.
1. Genetics (with genes that are not deformed for max egg laying or inbreeding for prize winning standard looks).
2. Chickens who have a short laying cycle are getting older (in general). Their bodies recover better from the egg laying season during the longer winter stop.

Sort of an update, the Welsummer I mentioned has since stopped laying (last egg was probably beginning of July) and gone into molt. Assuming she makes it to next spring without issue, she likely won't start laying again until March or April. So it's a very abbreviated lay cycle for her at this point.

I also have a younger dud hen that either never laid or laid only a couple eggs (but most likely has never laid). I am curious to see what effect that might have on lifespan and overall health.

 

[BDutch]

I found the translation of the article behind the green button. Unfortunately the original link doesn’t work anymore bc the website of “levende have” no longer exists. Levende have was a thrust-worthy Dutch website (originally a magazine) for members and it stopped altogether last year.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ickens-thread.1502267/page-2050#post-27447083

 

[Elle111]

Im convinced you hit the nail saying these two things.
1. Genetics (with genes that are not deformed for max egg laying or inbreeding for prize winning standard looks).
2. Chickens who have a short laying cycle are getting older (in general). Their bodies recover better from the egg laying season during the longer winter stop.

Several years ago the Louise Bolk institute in the Netherlands gathered information about longevity in backyard flock. Not a scientific research but they could make a few statements on the gathered information.
A few old heritage breeds with a large gene pool and barnyard mixes stood out in longevity. Im not sure anymore if free ranging was a indicator too. The article is in Dutch, I posted it on BYC some years ago (partly translated). I try to find it and post the link in this thread if I find it.

 

[Elle111]

Hoi, ik vroeg me af of je dat artikel nog had gepost..? Ben wel benieuwd.

 

[Elle111]

Sorry, tablet needed charging before I could finish. Those greens are a mix I grow here also. Mustard, kale, romaine, collards, chard, beet greens, amaranth, radish leaves, nasturtium, and sweet potato leaves. I freeze it for the winter too, so they still get good stuff then. I drizzle it all with a thyme vinaigrette. If you're saying that sounds like a good salad, you're right, that's the same salad I make for me each week. A big bowl in the fridge for me, and a big bag all prepped and in the fridge for them for the week.
I think climate is the only one I've missed. We can get in the negative temps, but usually 20s for lows. Winter temps usually only last a month, month and a half before temps start getting better. The high temps are gruesome, will definitely be in high nineties and hundreds with high humidity. The girls have always had a oil filled radiating heater in the coop in the winter and a fan in the summer. They also have a wading pool to cool off in during hot weather.
Omg, this turned into a book trying to get all those suggestions in, I'm so sorry.

A 'wading pool'?

 

[dirkandlorie]

Yes, A wading pool. We get temps in the high 90's, low 100's in the summer and the wading pool helps them to cool off. They love standing in it.

A 'wading pool'

 

[BDutch]

Hoi, ik vroeg me af of je dat artikel nog had gepost..? Ben wel benieuwd.

Nee, sorry. Ik kan t niet meer terugvinden tussen de publicaties van Louis Bolk.

 

[Elle111]

Yes, A wading pool. We get temps in the high 90's, low 100's in the summer and the wading pool helps them to cool off. They love standing in it.

Along with their diet, it sounds like a spa

 

[BDutch]

Hoi, ik vroeg me af of je dat artikel nog had gepost..? Ben wel benieuwd.

The original article is no longer available. The site Levende have (not Louis Bolk) is no longer active. I translated the info from the article under the spoiler button.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ickens-thread.1502267/page-2050#post-27447083