How long do Silkie Roosters live?

[awarmrainyday]

I was just curious if anyone knows how old they can get. My pet rooster Chester lives inside with us. He showed up malnourished and injured on my front porch almost a year ago now and I nursed him back to health and he lives in a 50 gallon tote in my den and wears a diaper to wander the house. He is blind in one eye and is already pretty old judging by his feet and really long talons. Sometimes his crow is a little...off...more like a croak. He crows at all hours of the day and night though, sometimes if he hears me laughing or talking a lot. He doesn't do well in temperatures below 68 degrees so he gets his heat lamp turned on every night over his roost in the tote and he seems pretty happy with that, in fact some days when I turn it off he goes on a crowing binge. Other than that he is pretty spunky, he regularly tries to flog my fiancee (and we have no idea why he hates him so much), he flies out of his tote on occasion, and he enjoys taunting the dogs and my rabbit. I'm hoping to keep him around for awhile!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

IMHO, they live about as long as most other chickens. I have a friend that had one over 10 years old.
That said, yours sounds like it has had a rough life so likely won't survive anywhere near that long.
I might also add that many people keep their roosters with their hen flocks that they feed layer feed. Doing so will dramatically shorten a roosters life.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

x2. It sounds like your guy has had a pretty rough go. He would probably greatly benefit from having a chicken companion. It would likely make it much easier for him to tolerate colder temperatures as well. They would huddle together for warmth.

I agree that they'll live as long as other breeds (depending on care and the amount stress they're dealing with). One of my hens is around 6 years old, and she still lays eggs regularly and hatches eggs every year.

Good luck.

 

[LisaLovesSilkies]

IMHO, they live about as long as most other chickens. I have a friend that had one over 10 years old.
That said, yours sounds like it has had a rough life so likely won't survive anywhere near that long.
I might also add that many people keep their roosters with their hen flocks that they feed layer feed. Doing so will dramatically shorten a roosters life.

Hello! I realize the comment was a long time ago. Can you please expand on this? This year I lost all 3 silkie rooster at 3 years of age. I expected them to live a lot longer because we care for them so well, however, they do eat layer feed with the hens. Should I change this and feed all flock with oyster on the side?
I scared myself feeding them all flock once and I had to save my hen from having 2 eggs stuck inside her. I’m not sure if it was a coincidence with the timing.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Hello! I realize the comment was a long time ago. Can you please expand on this? This year I lost all 3 silkie rooster at 3 years of age. I expected them to live a lot longer because we care for them so well, however, they do eat layer feed with the hens. Should I change this and feed all flock with oyster on the side?
I scared myself feeding them all flock once and I had to save my hen from having 2 eggs stuck inside her. I’m not sure if it was a coincidence with the timing.

Ok, I'll elaborate. But maybe a historical snapshot will help. Genetically, modern chickens (gallus gallus domesticus) are virtually identical to red jungle fowl (gallus gallus) the species modern chickens have evolved from thanks to genetic selection and nutrition research. Those ancestral birds still exist in the wild. Their range extends from hot humid southeast Asian forests to the Himalayan foothills. This diversity of adaptability has allowed humans to develop well over a hundred breeds of chickens on all continents, just like we now have a huge variety of dog breeds from wolves or horses from the original equine first domesticated between the Black and Caspian seas.
A red jungle fowl cock can still mate with an Orpington hen and produce mix breed chickens from their eggs. Conversely, a Jersey Giant cock can breed with a red jungle fowl hen producing chicks from her eggs. This because they genetically possess the same species DNA. However, that is where the similarities cease. Humans have selected birds for behavior, climatic adaptability, size, shape, color and productivity - even flavor of meat.
Since the qualities of chickens were first recognized, not just the quality of the meat and eggs, but also the fierce demeanor of males. It is this latter quality that first brought the noble fowl to all corners of the earth. The food aspect was less important originally than the sport aspect of cock fighting. Many kings, sultans and presidents engaged in cock fighting. It was their secondary benefits of meat and eggs plus tertiary products like feathers and manure that superseded cock fighting as the true value.
In the ensuing centuries, production increased exponentially. The same species that can now produce over 300 eggs a year as opposed to the 10 eggs in a couple clutches a year of junglefowl, now need varied but significantly higher levels of calcium carbonate in their diet in order to build all the shells the aforementioned genetic selection now require.
While most breeds of modern hens need much more calcium than their ancestors. The amount derived from the natural diet was sufficient to pack calcium into the medullary bone of hens between clutches. Also adequate for roosters, chicks and aged hens. About 1% of the total intake. However, if a bird that is not building eggshells, their kidneys (organ responsible for regulating minerals in blood) cannot handle a diet of 4% calcium. In the end, the name of the food says it all. Layer feed is for layers, nothing else. A hen is not a layer by virtue of the fact she is female. Chicks aren't layers, roosters aren't layers, molting hens aren't layers, old hens no longer laying are not layers. Only birds actively producing shells can assimilate over 1% calcium for any extended period.
People feed layer feed to birds other than layers all the time. When their birds don't immediately keel over and die, they assume it is OK.
Like most animals, chickens have 2 kidneys, each with 3 segments. All segments have the same function. As long as two undamaged segments remain, chickens will behave and appear normal. They will continue to lay eggs. Just like with transplants in humans functioning with only one kidney. However, as soon as one of the remaining two segments atrophies or swells to the point it no longer does its job, the chicken will die within 24 hours, sometimes with no symptoms.
When chickens die, how often will a person get a necropsy at a poultry diagnostic lab? Every state and country have them. If the problem is excessive calcium, the cause of death could be easily identified. All organs are affected but since kidneys regulate minerals, they are the first sacrificed.
Just as with humans, animals can die from all sorts of maladies, it isn't just old age or reaching their expiration date that causes chickens to die. I've had birds, seemingly in the prime of their life die suddenly. Since my birds were so rare, it was critical to know what killed them, so I knew if the rest were in danger. I always took or shipped the birds to the UM poultry diagnostic lab for a necropsy. Virtually all deaths were from heart attack or cancer with the occasional fatty liver syndrome or egg binding. No diseases in all these years.
Layer feed is about 4% calcium and with few exceptions, all other feeds are about 1% calcium. The easiest way to resolve the dilemma is to feed a grower or all flock feed and supplement the hens' needs with crushed oyster shell or mineral form of calcium carbonate on the side in a separate container. Let them choose how much to consume. The amount they need will vary with their productivity. Very productive breeds like Leghorns or RIRs may need more than the 4% in layer feed so even if one feeds a layer ration, supplementation is still a good idea. For poor producers that only lay an egg occasionally, like once a week or less, they could get by without any supplementation or layer feed for that matter.
There are other options. You can build hen feeders with small openings the roosters can't fit their heads in. Then elevate feeders with the rooster ration high enough the hens can't reach.
Or, if you only have roosters for fertile eggs, you can house roosters separately and only give them conjugal visits a couple days every two weeks.
These last two options, while more laborious, may be preferable for rooster health. Roosters don't need the high protein in all flock (often about 20%) feed either. That high protein is for the ovulation of the hens and the growing bodies in a mixed flock. Adult roosters can maintain body functions on about 14% protein. Besides kidney damage from calcium, excess protein can also affect the kidneys and liver causing gout in the roosters.
I think that is enough for today!

 

[LisaLovesSilkies]

Ok, I'll elaborate. But maybe a historical snapshot will help. Genetically, modern chickens (gallus gallus domesticus) are virtually identical to red jungle fowl (gallus gallus) the species modern chickens have evolved from thanks to genetic selection and nutrition research. Those ancestral birds still exist in the wild. Their range extends from hot humid southeast Asian forests to the Himalayan foothills. This diversity of adaptability has allowed humans to develop well over a hundred breeds of chickens on all continents, just like we now have a huge variety of dog breeds from wolves or horses from the original equine on the Mongolian steppes and the Arabian Peninsula.
A red jungle fowl cock can still mate with an Orpington hen and produce mix breed chickens from their eggs. Conversely, a Jersey Giant cock can breed with a red jungle fowl hen producing chicks from her eggs. This because they genetically possess the same species DNA. However, that is where the similarities cease. Humans have selected birds for behavior, climatic adaptability, size, shape, color and productivity - even flavor of meat.
Since the qualities of chickens were first recognized, not just the quality of the meat and eggs, but also the fierce demeanor of males. It is this latter quality that first brought the noble fowl to all corners of the earth. The food aspect was less important originally than the sport aspect of cock fighting. Many kings, sultans and presidents engaged in cock fighting. It was their secondary benefits of meat and eggs plus tertiary products like feathers and manure that superseded cock fighting as the true value.
In the ensuing centuries, production increased exponentially. The same species that can now produce over 300 eggs a year as opposed to the 10 eggs in a couple clutches a year of junglefowl, now need varied but significantly higher levels of calcium carbonate in their diet to build all the shells genetic selection now require.
While most modern hens need much more calcium than originally. The amount derived from the natural diet was sufficient to pack calcium into the medullary bone of hens between clutches. Also adequate for roosters, chicks and aged hens. About 1% of the total intake. However, if a bird that is not building eggshells, their kidneys (organ responsible for regulating minerals in blood) cannot handle a diet of 4% calcium. In the end, the name of the food says it all. Layer feed is for layers, nothing else. Chicks aren't layers, roosters aren't layers, molting hens aren't layers, old hens no longer laying are not layers. Only birds actively producing shells can assimilate over 1% calcium for any extended period.
People feed layer feed to birds other than layers all the time. When their birds don't immediately keel over and die, they assume it is OK.
Like most animals, chickens have 2 kidneys, each with 3 segments. All segments have the same function. As long as two segments remain, chickens will behave and appear normal. They will continue to lay eggs. Just like with transplants and humans functioning with only one kidney. However, as soon as one of the remaining two segments atrophies or swells to the point it no longer does its job, the chicken will die within 24 hours, sometimes with no symptoms.
When chickens die, how often will a person get a necropsy at a poultry diagnostic lab? Every state and country have them. If the problem is excessive calcium, the cause of death is easily identified. All organs are affected but since kidneys regulate minerals, they are the first sacrificed.
Just as with humans, animals can die from all sorts of maladies, it isn't just old age or reaching expiration date that causes chickens to die. I've had birds, seemingly in the prime of their life die suddenly. Since my birds were so rare, it was critical to know what killed them so I knew if the rest were in danger. I always took or shipped the birds to the UM poultry diagnostic lab for a necropsy. Virtually all deaths were from heart attack or cancer. No diseases in all these years.
The easiest way to resolve is to feed a grower or all flock feed and supplement the hens' needs with crushed oyster shell or mineral calcium carbonate on the side in a separate container. Let them choose how much to consume. The amount they need will vary with their productivity. Very productive breeds like Leghorns or RIRs may need more than the 4% in layer feed so even if one feeds layer, supplementation is still a good idea. For poor producers that only lay an egg occasionally, like once a week or less, they could get by without any supplementation.
There are other options. You can build hen feeders with small openings the roosters can't fit their heads in. Elevate feeders with the rooster ration high enough the hens can't reach.
Or, if you only have roosters for fertile eggs, you can house roosters separately and only give them conjugal visits a couple days every two weeks.
These last two options, while more laborious, may be preferable for rooster health. Roosters don't need the high protein in all flock feed either. That high protein is for the ovulation of the hens and the growing bodies in a mixed flock.
I think that is enough for today!

Wow, I really appreciate you taking the time to post this response. It’s apparent my learning will never cease to end. I will be changing my feed. I have a broody sitting on eggs from my last rooster (that just past yesterday when I posted this) and I hope to carry him on. I will be changing my feed in the future as I love having roosters and need to consider my aging hens as well. Thank you for sharing your experiences as well as the history