Broad Breasted Bronze...question about age

[Willowbrook]

I have a pair of BBB that are going on 4 years old. They are large, but get around fine and seem to enjoy life as they should.
How long can I expect them to live a natural life without health problems? They both weigh about 40 pounds.

 

[Kennyog]

It's hard to say. They were developed for fast growth. They most likely will not live as long as the Heritage breeds. You could go with the standard bronze,not as big, but can reproduce naturally and live longer. Hope this helps.

 

[Willowbrook]

Thank you. I do have a standard Bronze Tom and he is much more streamlined compared to these two. He has bred the hen and she has incubated the eggs. While they were fertile, I learned a big lesson. She is excellent at sitting...so good that she doesn't have the presence of mind to get up when the chicks were hatching and they all died half-out of the shell. If I get eggs from her again this spring, they are going in the incubator.

 

[Kennyog]

That would be a good idea. Good luck with your future hatches.