Age of Chickens

[Bobbi Jack]

I'm not sure if this is the correct place for this; if not, moderators, feel free to move it.

Just thought this would be an interesting topic; How old do chickens naturally live? AND How old is your oldest chicken?
My oldest is 9 (ten this spring) years old, and still just as perky as the younger hens, with the exception of the occasional runny nose. I'm not sure what kind she, I think some kind of meat bird.
Anyway, it might be ineresting to see how many people have older ones, and how iold they can live to be.

 

[Chickenaddict]

I have read up to 14 years old but have also heard of people who have had them for like 17 years or longer

 

[Quella]

I'm also wondering that, does it depend on the breed maybe?

 

[Chickenaddict]

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_lifespan_of_a_chicken

 

[cmom]

Quote:
Post some pics and most likely some of the members can tell you what breed your girl is.

 

[Bobbi Jack]

Okay, this is Pet. Anyone know what breed she is?

 

[dani813]

She's a pretty one!

 

[sandspoultry]

Our oldest 'roo is probably about 10 years old. He just showed up one day and was in the yard under a bird feeder. We always figured he was an escaped fighting cock or to be used for training as his comb and wattles had been recently cut, but anyway he showed up at the right place and is still going. He doesn't even try to mate much anymore and pretty much gives all the others a wide berth, he always hangs around the chicken house at feeding time as he gets a special handfull of corn each day.

Steve in NC

 

[CovenantCreek]

Quote:
I'm gonna guess White Rock.

 

[silkiechicken]

My oldest is about 5, but that is because I rotate out the birds for new layers.

"production meat" type probably won't see much past 18 months even with careful care since they are a hybrid, since many start to die at as young as 8-10 weeks old. I'm going to say you have a nice white rock in the pic.

As for how chickens "naturally live", what we know as a chicken is a domesticated animal, which can go feral like a domestic house cat, so their closest relatives are jungle fowl, which well, live in jungle type areas in tropics. Which is why chickens that go feral in CA, HI, and FL often times can make it just fine.