How long to they *really* lay?

[1stepcloser]

I am trying to read everything I can about chickens and I keep reading chickens lose production after about 1-1 1/2 years and should be culled.

Is that true? Are my layers days really that numbered? Crap.

 

[speckledhen]

No way. Healthy birds, especially the heritage purebreeds, will lay for years, just at a reduced rate. My oldest girls, who are almost four years old, are laying several eggs each week. Sexlinks may not lay as long as the purebreds.

That two year mark is for commercial operations, who do not want any reduced rates of lay.

 

[sparkles2307]

I think there was a post a while back about a chicken that layed for like 9 years or something? Just not every day

 

[1stepcloser]

Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is great to hear!

 

[BarkerChickens]

My friend's 9 yr old was laying 3 eggs a week every other month. Odd cycle, but she was laying eggs until she died of natural causes. Our 2 yr olds are all laying great still.

I think egg production companies keep layers for 1-1.5 yrs and that is where the misconception stems from.