Does it matter where I get my chickens from as far as life expectency?

[U_Stormcrow]

and while I sound knowledgeable (in part, the words I use, the structure of my writing), my management methods involve no bird living past two years, and almost half not making it six months - so though I breed, and have an end goal I'm breeding towards, honestly - longevity isn't it.

I'm offering theory, not practice. Most don't practice for "pets". and "pets" is the only reason to value old birds.

 

[Folly's place]

I value broody hens, and birds who can continue laying eggs as they get older. Every bird here doesn't live to get old, some move elsewhere, most cockerels of course don't stay, and we've had a couple of bad episodes of predation.
Favorites do stay as long as possible though!
And I necropsy every bird who dies of something other than predation, so I usually know what the cause of death actually was.
Mary