AGING hens

[City Farmer Jim]

Happy NEW YEAR to all. I guess this the right place for this question(s). What is the typical life expectancy of a standard hen ? We have a mixed(ages) flock of 14, our oldest girls will be 4 in February and a couple are moving slower than normal. The 2 in question are 1 is barred rock and a buff orpington. The pep in their step is not what it once was. Curious to hear what you all think on longevity.

 

[EEforMe]

Happy NEW YEAR to all. I guess this the right place for this question(s). What is the typical life expectancy of a standard hen ? We have a mixed(ages) flock of 14, our oldest girls will be 4 in February and a couple are moving slower than normal. The 2 in question are 1 is barred rock and a buff orpington. The pep in their step is not what it once was. Curious to hear what you all think on longevity.

I have two 8 year old hens. It depends on the bird too. But at four if they seem to be significantly lethargic they might be ill.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I've had birds that live to be 10 with few issues until the very end

 

[MotherofOrpies]

I have a hen which will turn 11 in February and another one which is 9 years old. If they are lethargic, maybe they are too fat? Orpington tend to gain weight, then turn lethargic and stop laying eggs, I had a hen like that, but she liked to brood, so during that time, she lost weigh, after that, she started laying eggs again an be livelier , but then she got fat again….got broody, endless cycle

 

[TXchickmum]

We've had hens live to be between 8-9, then had some that developed issues and passed around 4 (production reds). I think it just depends on many things.

 

[Mrs. K]

I have never had hens live as long as others on here post. I have had chickens for decades. To me, a 4 year old hen is an old hen. They become stiff and arthritic and crabby. They generally drop egg production severely.

Really not much you can do, it is just a fact of life. I would not be surprised if one day, you will just find them dead. But who knows when?

Mrs K

 

[MROO]

Happy NEW YEAR to all. I guess this the right place for this question(s). What is the typical life expectancy of a standard hen ? We have a mixed(ages) flock of 14, our oldest girls will be 4 in February and a couple are moving slower than normal. The 2 in question are 1 is barred rock and a buff orpington. The pep in their step is not what it once was. Curious to hear what you all think on longevity.

I currently have two seven-year old bantams in my flock. One is a hen who is no longer laying, but has earned her right to stay in the flock. I've watched her teaching manners to the youngsters, especially my two young cockerels. The other "elder," is my flockmaster, who is still siring healthy chicks.
As far as four-year-olds who are slowing down, I agree with @EEforMe. I'd treat for coccidiosis (Corid/amprolium) as a precaution. It's a benign treatment (won't hurt them) and could save you from a disaster. You can also add a poultry multi-vitamin, but not until AFTER the coccidiosis treatment is over. Vitamins will completely cancel the effects of the medication.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I have noticed that my 10 year olds were the last batch that lived this long. Their offspring are sometimes healthier too, but I wonder if the newer genetics are failing because the hatcheries aren't breeding from older hens, so there's no clue of if they would live that long or not

 

[MROO]

I have noticed that my 10 year olds were the last batch that lived this long. Their offspring are sometimes healthier too, but I wonder if the newer genetics are failing because the hatcheries aren't breeding from older hens, so there's no clue of if they would live that long or not

Interesting thought! I hadn't really considered it before, but looking back, my longest-living birds (and most other stock/pets, including horses) were mostly home-bred, either mine or someone else I know. Commercially bred animals, even the one purebred dog I've ever had, didn't live nearly as long as the critters who came from "real" environments. Hmm ...

 

[texsuze]

My BA, Jolene, was 9 when she went to the Rainbow Bridge; she was a day old chick from Meyer Hatchery in 2010 and was my oldest hen at the time of her passing. My current senior citizen, Vashti, an 8 y.o. Dominique, has lived through everything nature and weather has thrown our way, including chronic MS symptoms. She was from a private breeder a few hours north of me. She is frail with mobility issues but still rules the roost with a squawk and a look that sets everyone else in their place!