For those who have chickens living long life spans, where did they come from?

[Ducclelover10]

I have heard that hatchery chickens tend to have more problems with health. We got 4 chickens 4 years ago and have lost one to illness already and another has egg yolk peritonitis. When we get new chickens I would rather spend more up front and get the healthiest we can find than spend it on vet bills. Plus losing your pets is hard. Where do you think is the best place to get chickens with good genetics.

 

[kazoo1111]

The main thing you have to worry about getting hatchery chicj\kens is keeping them alive on their trip to your house. I suggest you contact your hatchery and make sure that they get shipped at one day old because chicks can only live 2 1/2 days to 3 days on the yolk so they must be shipped in this time period. Also it's best to order them over spring or summer seasons and get over 3 chicks at a time. Have a place set up for them a head of time. That's for if you order over the internet. If you are picking them up make sure you have a nice place set up ahead of time.

 

[Avianman]

Honestly, I really think you get what you pay for. Considering how cheap chickens are, I just don't see the reason to spend less. The backyard breeders are the best in general. I hatch 90% of the chickens on my farm by buying hatching eggs and incubating them.

Well, I don't incubate them...I use an incubator. I don't have the patience to sit in one spot for three weeks...

Buy from the classifieds here...you'll find some good chicks. You might spend $10 instead of $2, but you'll make that up with the first vet bill.

 

[donrae]

Honestly, I really think you get what you pay for. Considering how cheap chickens are, I just don't see the reason to spend less. The backyard breeders are the best in general. I hatch 90% of the chickens on my farm by buying hatching eggs and incubating them.

Well, I don't incubate them...I use an incubator. I don't have the patience to sit in one spot for three weeks...

Buy from the classifieds here...you'll find some good chicks. You might spend $10 instead of $2, but you'll make that up with the first vet bill.

I've had hatchery birds live 7-8 years before I got rid of them. Then again, not 100% of the birds lived that long, I'd say less than 50%.

 

[Percheron chick]

Having 4 year old hens that are still producing is pretty darn good. Genetically, some breeds are only good for 1-2 years and no matter where they come from or how they are managed can you get any more out of them. If they have been healthy, productive hens up to how, I wouldn't fault their breeding.

 

[Mrs. K]

Generally, a chicken is not a long lived animal. By the time they are 4 or more, they are elderly. People do write about very old chickens, but that is not the average, but rather the exception. It is probably unrealistic to expect them to live that long.

If it is hard on you losing individual birds, you might need a different pet. I focus on the enjoyment of having a flock, the birds in the flock change as the years go by.

Mrs K

 

[Sjisty]

I have Brahmas. Most of my flock is 6-ish years old now. I am still getting eggs from all of them, just not every day. Out of 12 or so old girls, I'm getting probably 6 eggs daily. The younger girls are laying more, of course. Frack, who is 6+ years old, still comes in the house to lay her eggs. She usually lays about 3 days in a row and then takes a week off. Our oldest chicken is an unknown breed bantam, just over 7 years old. She lays faithfully every day when she isn't broody; however, she is broody most of the time. As we speak, she is on a nest of 5 eggs due to hatch the end of next week. Another Brahma, Buttercup, lays every day but hasn't had a fertile egg in years. Today I candled the one egg of hers that I put in the incubator - it's developing!

None of my chickens are hatchery. With the exception of Chrissie, the bantam, I have raised all of my flock from eggs.

 

[Mrs. K]

I am impressed, I have never had a chicken live to 6 years old. What part of the world do you live in? I am just wondering if having a real winter puts more stress on a bird than I think. Mrs K

 

[Sjisty]

I am impressed, I have never had a chicken live to 6 years old. What part of the world do you live in? I am just wondering if having a real winter puts more stress on a bird than I think. Mrs K

We live in central Florida, so maybe you're right. We do get temperatures down in the teens here, but not prolonged.