anyone breed for longevity / long-term health?

[Beekissed]

The hens that I have that are old and still producing were fed laying mash as soon as they finished their chick starter...not sure of the protein content but it seems to have no ill effect on these gals. They've never had reproductive issues and are still producing well at 6 and 7 years of age.

 

[speckledhen]

When you consider that chicken hens are the only animals that experience spontaneous ovarian tumors/cancers like human women, that they are studied in order to learn more and to find a cure for women's reproductive cancers, it's a wonder they live past two or three years old, ever.

I have yet to have a good breeder type hen die from internal laying while I've had quite a few hatchery hens suffer from that. They just seem to have better genetics, hence better longevity. If you have breeds who are not the most common ones the general feedstore chick-buying public thinks of as their "egg-a-day" breeds, you may do better in keeping them longer than if you concentrate on the sex links or the production reds, etc. JMHO.

 

[Queen of the chickens]

I'm sorry for your loss. I haven't had a chicken die of old age or reproductive issues because it took a couple of years to get our predator issues resolved. I was so upset over these losses that I was ready to give up, too. Things are going better now and I am trying to focus on giving them a happy life, whatever the eventual length. However, I appreciate the information on feeding a lower protein feed. I would have assumed higher was better, now I know that's not always the case.

 

[cobrien]

Have you ever thought about a parrot? They're very long-lived and intelligent. I think one would be a great pet for you, if you can handle the noise.

Otherwise I don't have much to contribute on the topic of chicken longevity. I'm pretty sure most breeders only worry about the productive first few years of a bird's life, for better or for worse. I'll admit to never really considering the natural lifespan of a chicken before, save hoping our five 'never to be eaten' first hens stick around for a while. But it's certainly possible to find chickens who live to be nearly ten.

Thanks, I have thought of a pet bird, they are totally cool but they are not for me right now. I keep chickens for a humane source of eggs. If I stop raising chickens I'll stop eating eggs, which would be a huge bummer as they are a major source of vegetarian protein for me. I've had some live to be 8 but way too many have died at 2-3 years old from reproductive problems.