How old can I expect a backyard chicken to live and more?

[leighstevens]

Our preschool has a 7-8 year old larger chicken, unknown breed (she's a light red color) who has been very healthy her entire life. She laid eggs when she was younger but hasn't in the last 3 years.

My question is how old can we expect her to get?

Also, we are building a new barn for the chickens. Would it be very disruptive to move her to a new environment (ie. someone's house) for two weeks while the construction was being completed?

Thanks,
Leigh

 

[chickiebird]

Everything that comes into our family gets to live out its full life span, and my sister had chickens who lived to be 10-20 years old - she had them for 10 years, and we're not sure how old they were when she got them. Some kept laying right up until the last couple of years! They were no particular breed - just some brown, some speckled, some black, etc.

 

[leighstevens]

Thank you. That helps quite a bit. We don't need to adopt her out, just because she might die sometime during the school year.

Any suggestions on the environment change?

Leigh

 

[silkiechicken]

It should be fine for her if she is used to people.

 

[chickbea]

It shouldn't be a problem for her. Does she live with any other critters? If so, you may want to keep them together.
What do you guys feed her? That isn't too old for a hen to lay eggs - is she on a layer ration?
The oldest chicken I personally know of was 18, and she still raised a clutch of babies each spring!