How long does a chicken live?

[lisebarb]

I know, this does sound like a dumb question but my city friends keep asking me and I really don't know.

I could be wrong but I understand that on commercial farms the roos are butchered early and the hens are generally kept to lay for 18 to 24 months before they too are butchered.

But what about chickens kept as pets? My gals started laying just before Christmas last year. How long should I expect them to lay? When they stop laying, how long do they live?

I know that their are lifespan ranges for certain breeds of dogs, is this also true for chickens?

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

I have a 7 year "old man" EE roo, but I have heard of 10 - 12 year olds.

 

[SunnyDawn]

From what I've read they can live for about 8 years if they are healthy. This varies with the breed and also depends on how they are cared for.
I've never kept mine over 5 years but that's what I read.

 

[Imp]

There are several members here that have teenage chickens. I've heard up to 20, but that would be very rare. Seems like mostly 3-4 is common anything beyond that is a bonus.

Most breeds slow down laying about 3 yo, but will continue laying for the duration of their lives. There is someone on here who has a 15 yo hen that still occasionally lays. I have a GLW that is almost 4 and still get 3 eggs a week.

And Yes the breed does make a difference.

Imp

 

[BellLisamo]

According to Mypetchicken.com .............

Q: How long do chickens live?
A: It's common to hear of a pet chicken living eight to ten years. Once in a while you hear reports of 15 years or more! However, it is a rare bird indeed that can live that long.

 

[patandchickens]

males of commercial layer lines (not ones hatched for breeding, I mean, but ones hatched along with their future-laying-hen sisters): <1 day.

the meat chickens that produce supermarket chicken-meat: 5-6 weeks.

commercial layers: 18-24 months or so.

typical backyard chickens not et by predators nor stewed as laying drops off: it is reasonable to think you will see some of your flock as 5 yr olds, but very likely not all of them, and not too many are likely to make it too awful far past that.

the occasional lucky "methuselah" chicken: up to 20 years.


Pat

 

[ConchRepublic]

I had a banty frizzled cochin roo that got to be about 8 when I sold him.

 

[gallusdomesticus]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matilda_(chicken)

16 yrs seems to be the tops according to Guiness Book of world records

 

[slickchik]

I had a RIR that died in December and she was over 10 years old.

I have 2 frizzled cochin bantams that are over 6 years old...

 

[Whitehouse Quail]

Try here