Feed for Longevity

[micstrachan]

Wait... where did you get that? If it sounded like I said people claim egg production goes UP, then I totally said it wrong. It goes DOWN, which is pretty much an indisputable fact. Anyway, my point was that most research is geared toward quick, high production farming and not for long life. In lots of big farming, egg laying hens absolutely ARE discarded. Literally.
I apologize if I offended you. I have a deep respect for operations where the hens are well cared for and culled as humanely as possible once they are no longer useful. I am well aware that those of us who keep chickens strictly as pets are a tiny minority.

 

[Aji Dulce]

I and people like me keep birds that are not considered mature until 18 months. Generally, they fed restricted ration rather that free-choice typically employed by industry and backyard enthusiast. The feeds are not as hot / nutrient dense. The feeds are generally based on whole grains and more vegetative plant matter like you get with access to grass. The diets used on hen side are not complete; the calcium and phosphate needed for sustained egg production is on the side in the form of something like crushed oyster the birds have free-choice access too.

Birds as I keep them have little trouble reaching 10 years of age.

I can identify with your chicken keeping. What breeds do you have? I keep Mottled Javas.