Are my hens just showing sings of old age?

[TheTwoRoos]

I have several 4 year old sex links,and a production red,and i'm DEFIANTLY beginning noticing some new bahviour.

Some of them are beginning to go up early,I mean sun out etc and still go up,very unusual for some of them,maybe it's because we put them at 5:00.They seem to be laying,accept one always acts as if she is gonna lay,and never does,she makes nest on random things,waits at nest,maybe she is done laying and just doing what she use to do,boredom maybe?They also are beginning to get those droopy ode hen faces that a few of my older hens have.

Also noticing my young hens getting a little Out of hand,some have challenged them but eventually do regret it.These birds are pretty up there,not weak,butd efiantly being msitaken for weaknes.

Are this just signs of old age.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

4 years old is an average age but certainly not old. Most my birds live 4-6 years, with a few living longer, 9-10 years. Some hens will live even longer. My oldest hen is 9, she has arthritis and a bad back, but she's still queen of the flock, all 66 of them.

Sex links need a higher protein feed to stay healthy. 18-22% is the best.

 

[Mrs. K]

I will humbly disagree with "oldhenslikesdogs' which I very seldom do, as she gives excellent advice.

To me, a four year old hen, IS an old hen. The actions you describe are old age. I would not be surprised, if all of a sudden you will have several of them die. Be fine one night, and gone the next morning, which if you think of it, is not a bad end for a chicken. I know people on here, like oldhenlikesdogs, have very old chickens, but I have always had hatchery birds, and never come close to 5 years of age. 4.5 is the best I have ever done, and maybe she would have made it, but for the !@#$%#$ coons.

How is the quality of your eggs, I found with my older birds, that often times the egg quality of the whites got thin, so that the yolk would disengage from it in a fry pan.

Mrs K

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Nit sur enext tume i cook the eggs i will look.

I never thought 4 was a extremely old, but maybe its like 50 in human years,idk.

Most of the hens from that batch actually are rolling fine,just have noticed 2 become very different.
And one other hen,the sexlink whi fakes as if she will lay,still has the same personality just seems like she is doing more louging,so mainly the seinks are showing elderly age,and a Production hen.
These birds were brought from a TSC,which I guess is different from hatchery birds.I do have a few birds I bought froma hatchery my first time buying from a hatchery,only 2 though

 

[Mrs. K]

No, TSC birds would be hatchery birds, that is where they get them.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Most of mine are hatchery birds, and a few bantams are breeder birds. Sex links seem to live a shorter life than other breeds for some reason, I have an extreme dislike of them for multiple reasons. It seems about 1-2 birds out of 10 of mine will live a longer life. 4 does seem to be a good drop dead age for many of them.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

So i should just be ready for deaths?

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

My hen is....Get ready.....almost 8 years old.And,get ready.....STILL LAYING EVERY OTHER DAY!
She is a BR.
The Sexlink's I've had where killed when they were under a year.
No one can really guess if your hen(s) are going to go to Chickie Heaven.All you can do is keep them comfy with water and food and soft bedding.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

With chickens you just never know when they will die, well most critters you never know.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

I think after these sexlinks past away ill stop getting them,these were my favorites and had a lot of personality,2 even make little chick calling sounds to me,but I need something that will live long,and not have any egg issues.I have a easter egger who is old and still is doing good.A barred rock too.I just had a five year old austrolourp die a few weeks ago.