I've had a flock of chickens at various times over the past 20 years. I will get baby chicks in early spring and keep them until winter or I might winter them over and keep them until late fall of the following year. I've never kept a flock longer than two years. Now I'm contemplating buying a new coop and before spending a lot of money I'm considering all the reasons why I don't keep my flocks for a longer time period. One, I like to have them free-range when possible and this leads to destroyed garden beds and manure on the garage floor among other things. Two, the coop I currently have is too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. Three, if we want to go away for a few days, we have to find someone to take care of the henhouse. Four, predators. Five, the day to day chores get monotonous. There are probably more reasons than this. And I think there are solutions to each of my concerns. What's the longest time period you have kept your flock?