How old can chickens get?

[fluffychickens]

My Mom once had a chicken who lived to be 9! How old is the oldest chicken you've heard of?

 

[Shaun]

We had three that lived past 11, the last one was just shy of 12.

 

[SilverPhoenix]

My experience is that they usually live between seven and fifteen years, with bantams and game breeds living longer than standards and production breeds. I have four bantams that are eleven right now and they're in great health--no one would ever guess their age looking at them.

I've heard stories of chickens living to be twenty-five, but they were all second-hand stories so I don't know about that. My birds are extremely well-cared for, but I'll be surprised if they live past fifteen.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

13 - :d

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

My 8 y.o. EE, Lucy, still gives me an egg every other day.

 

[canada-goose]

I heard a rumour that someone had a chicken who lived to be 20 once. I'm not sure if I believe it, though.

 

[Criskin]

How long do they continue to lay? I've read that production drops after the first year but I'd be more than happy to have an egg every other day!

 

[pgpoultry]

Depends on the breed and the hen as to how long they lay.

I have had hybrids who have stopped laying at about 2 years of age, but have a hybrid who is over 3 and lays every single day.

It is said that hens lay a finite number of eggs, so the later they start, and the less eggs they lay per week, the longer that they continue to lay. Big, late maturing birds like Brahmas and Cochins can lay for 7 to 8 years.

Sandie