How old do chickens get to be?

[Dawnclucks22]

Hi guys. I hope I found the best forum for this. I know this is a really vague question and I've googled it but every source has a different answer (some around 3 or 5, some even around 10). What's your experience with aging chickens? If you like, tell me when your hens stopped laying! I have a 3 yo hen that I haven't witnessed lay in awhile although the other two her age do for sure. I want to know your stories!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Most of my chickens live between 4-6 years of age with a few living longer up to 10 so far.

Most stop laying by 6 years, though some continue to sporadically lay for longer.

 

[chickenmomma16]

I had a hatchery Austra-White (Australorp x leghorn) hen that lived to 9 and to this day I don't know how/why she died. She was found under some really weird circumstances.
With regards to laying, she maybe laid one normal egg in her 8th year but laid many soft shelled eggs. Nothing in her 9th year before she died. Before that she would lay a couple times a week for a couple months and then just provide me with conversation and entertainment for the rest of the year or raise chicks if she went broody. Great hen that I miss so much!

 

[MrsAuberry00]

I really worry about the day my hens stop laying. My husband has the mindset that they are here to produce eggs and when they stop, they'll be dinner. I'm not sure I can eat a chicken I've grown so attached to.

 

[maralpz2006]

My leghorn died last week she was 11 years and 4 months

 

[MrsAuberry00]

My leghorn died last week she was 11 years and 4 months