Eight is very old for a chicken correct?

[BeastyBird]

Eight is very old for a chicken correct? Because today at dusk I realized I had not seen my sizzle hen since yesterday and when I tracked her down I found her stone cold

She seemed perfectly fine yesterday. Upon inspection I found her nose, mouth and eyes were clean, there was some food in her craw, I found no injury, and there is no way a predator was in their huge covered run.

She was 8 years and 42 days old, born on my 22nd Birthday.

Eight is super old for a hen correct? And she very likely just died of old age correct? I have yet to have a hen die of old age, do they just go suddenly without "acting" old?

(my oldest hen is 13 by the way)

 

[cavemanrich]

You and I live in Parallel Universe. I just lost my Japanese Bantam Yesterday. She was about 8 years or so. My oldest current chicken is 10 years at Easter. and an EE. and My longest living chicken lived 13 years. A Silver Sebrite .
To answer your question, do they just die instantly? It varies just like with other living things. The latest one for me showed signs of going to other side for a couple days, and then went. That is the SAD part. Others just were found in the morning in coop.
Here is a pix of Efiteris....

Here is a pix of Delilah. She is blind since July 2015 after dog attack.

If you go to my profile page on the large picture you can see my Silver Sebrite upper center.

I only keep chickens as pets. Do eat the eggs.