how long do chickens usually live?

i dont know how long their natural life. they lay a lot of eggs for two years, then off and on.

 

I read 8 to 10 year average. I saw a post here about a 16 year old hen that layed an egg.

 

I have read that 10 to 15 years is the norm. My oldest hen is about 8. She lays a couple clutches of eggs every spring.

 

Yes, ill own up to being mum to 16 year old Goldilocks a buff orp, she laid an egg this morning!!!I think it depends on the breed. I know that Isa browns dont usually have a long life span.

 

Here is a great chart. and a great site check it out.
http://www.allaboutchickens.tk/

Bantams lay smaller eggs than large fowl, and in cookery, 2 bantam eggs should be used to 1 normal egg.

Every year, hen will lay 80% of the eggs she laid the previous year, so assuming she laid 200 eggs in her first year then the pattern would go like this:
First year: 200 eggs
Second year: 160 eggs
Third year: 128 eggs
Fourth year: 102 eggs
Fifth year: 82 eggs
Sixth year: 66 eggs
Seventh year: 52 eggs
Eigth year: 42 eggs

And so on, however many chickens, even those kept as pets will not make it past their 5th year. Most commercial producers will kill all their layers at 18 months of age because they become uneconomical to keep. They then replace the old layers with new ones and the process begins again. However, to the small hobby keeper, egg numbers will not matter as much so they may be kept for significantly longer than that. People who keep them as pets will usually keep them until they die.

 

I read that the average lifespan is 4-7 years. But I wonder if that's because so many get culled (one way or another)?? I'd really like to know what the natural lifespan of a chicken is.

 

Quote:FG, are you saying that they're culled, or that they die naturally at a younger age??

 

That came from the website I sent.
http://www.allaboutchickens.tk/
I think from illness or culling. I believe they can live too about 10-15 years as pets.

 

the egg chart is great. thanks.