How do you make a chicken live longer?

[Mrs. K]

Really if a long lived animal is what you want, you might reconsider chickens. A lot of them do not live real long lives.

I keep a flock, the flock I have had for years, but it is a very real fact, that the birds in the flock come and go fairly regularly. I once was in contact with a breeder of stellar reputation, I asked him what he fed his birds, birds in competition, and he said just commercial poultry feed.

I sometimes wonder if climate has a big impact on life span, but while some people do keep very long lived birds, I think it is more luck of the draw.

Mrs K

 

[Hyper_Chicken05]

well I have free range sorted, they love to scratch around in a bunch of leaf litter and all the breeds I have are heritage breeds and not high production breeds.

I forgot to mention they have an acre of land to free range, but they only go on 1/3 of it. (By there choice)

 

[Hyper_Chicken05]

Really if a long lived animal is what you want, you might reconsider chickens. A lot of them do not live real long lives.

I keep a flock, the flock I have had for years, but it is a very real fact, that the birds in the flock come and go fairly regularly. I once was in contact with a breeder of stellar reputation, I asked him what he fed his birds, birds in competition, and he said just commercial poultry feed.

I sometimes wonder if climate has a big impact on life span, but while some people do keep very long lived birds, I think it is more luck of the draw.

Mrs K

I am not looking for long living pets, I just want to give my chickens a happy long lifestyle, but hopefully they live 8-10 years.

 

[Mrs. K]

I think you are setting yourself up for failure. If you keep them with clean water, consistent nutritious feed, and dry bedding and wind protection, that is generally considered adequate care and will produce content, satisfied, active healthy birds. Happy is a human emotion.

I think hoping for birds to live 8-10 years is not real realistic, but I have heard of some birds living that long. If the average life span is 4.5 years, there are going to be lots of birds that live more than that or less than that.

Good luck

 

[Chullicken]

If you want short lived chickens..free range them (Dogs, Predators), use heat lamps (Fire Hazards), supplement their lighting to have continuous egg production (Stress) in winter and feed them tons of high protein treats (Fatty deposits on organs). There is really no way like everyone said, to really insure longevity in fowl. Genes, diet, stress and general conditions can aid in a long life span. Good luck with them, they seem in good hands!

 

[Chullicken]

I was doing that too! It's taken a lot of discipline on my part to stop doing that and it was totally my fault that they became super picky and refused to eat their feed for a while.

Think everyone has been guilty of it. They form a food association with us and they love to beg..its just so hard some days to say no. lol

 

[Hyper_Chicken05]

I think you are setting yourself up for failure. If you keep them with clean water, consistent nutritious feed, and dry bedding and wind protection, that is generally considered adequate care and will produce content, satisfied, active healthy birds. Happy is a human emotion.

I think hoping for birds to live 8-10 years is not real realistic, but I have heard of some birds living that long. If the average life span is 4.5 years, there are going to be lots of birds that live more than that or less than that.

Good luck

That’s the average age for commercial breeds, what I’m getting is heritage breeds and not high production breeds, like australorps, there average lifespan is actually 8-10 years. But the ones I am focused on giving a longer life are the ones like Dorkings, barnevelders, Buff Orpingtons and other heritage breeds. Because there lifespan is around 6-8 years

 

[Hyper_Chicken05]

Think everyone has been guilty of it. They form a food association with us and they love to beg..its just so hard some days to say no. lol

IKR all my chickens coming running up to me as soon as they hear me. Even when I have nothing, they will follow me from when I come outside then go back inside. ( sometimes they wait at the door and make noises lol)

 

[nminusyplusm]

Think everyone has been guilty of it. They form a food association with us and they love to beg..its just so hard some days to say no. lol

That's exactly it. And quid pro quo buys a lot of chicken love.

 

[nminusyplusm]

IKR all my chickens coming running up to me as soon as they hear me. Even when I have nothing, they will follow me from when I come outside then go back inside. ( sometimes they wait at the door and make noises lol)

Mine go crazy if they see me through a window in my house. I feel like I have a bunch of mini-stalkers. LOL