How old is old?

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

We had a silkie rooster who had a respiratory infection and sadly we found it too late and he died later that weeek

 

[lena_]

The oldest I have is a 12 year old Black copper Marans(I believe, as she laid her last chocolate brown egg in 2014). My new neighbour had a hen called Moss that lived to 23! Before she was killed by a dog. Moss was a Salmon Favorelle, and was still laying an egg a week. I hear heritage breeds live longer, and lay longer, whilst production breeds tend to live shorter lives, and they lose production value rapidly.
We have a ISA brown who is 6 years old, and only misses laying on Wednesdays. She's still a great hen. Her best friend is a 4 year old Barnevelder, who still lays nicely.
I consider a bird old by six years, by then they have truly earned their place in the flock. I rarely have predator-caused deaths, less so since I got my rooster Reggie. We got him as a three month old back in March, only one death, and that was thanks to a hawk.
Having an old chicken is an achievement in itself, but elderly chickens are a truly invaluable asset to the flock. My elderly barred Plymouth Rock is amazing for teaching younger birds the ropes of flock life.
-Feather.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Here are some pics:
She is the one on the left:
View attachment 1579330

View attachment 1579333

She is lovely. What a lucky girl.

 

[andreanar]

She looks great! Gorgeous hen.

 

[RodNTN]

We have 2 silkies we bought as roughly 2 year olds...that was back in summer of 2012.
They have respiratory symptoms and are as cranky and broody as all get out but I hope they'll live a few more good years

So they're roughly 8 years old? I've never had Silkies live that long!

 

[RodNTN]

We had a silkie rooster who had a respiratory infection and sadly we found it too late and he died later that weeek

I'm sorry

She is lovely. What a lucky girl.

Thank you!

She looks great! Gorgeous hen.

Thanks!!

 

[lilmillefleur]

So they're roughly 8 years old? I've never had Silkies live that long!

Going on nine!

 

[RodNTN]

The oldest I have is a 12 year old Black copper Marans(I believe, as she laid her last chocolate brown egg in 2014). My new neighbour had a hen called Moss that lived to 23! Before she was killed by a dog. Moss was a Salmon Favorelle, and was still laying an egg a week. I hear heritage breeds live longer, and lay longer, whilst production breeds tend to live shorter lives, and they lose production value rapidly.
We have a ISA brown who is 6 years old, and only misses laying on Wednesdays. She's still a great hen. Her best friend is a 4 year old Barnevelder, who still lays nicely.
I consider a bird old by six years, by then they have truly earned their place in the flock. I rarely have predator-caused deaths, less so since I got my rooster Reggie. We got him as a three month old back in March, only one death, and that was thanks to a hawk.
Having an old chicken is an achievement in itself, but elderly chickens are a truly invaluable asset to the flock. My elderly barred Plymouth Rock is amazing for teaching younger birds the ropes of flock life.
-Feather.

Wow! 12 and 23? Those are some ancient chickens! I hope to buy some heritage breeds sometimes, I have a lot of mixes and production breeds.
As we said earlier, proper care plays the biggest part in how long a chicken lives; so you and your neighbor are definitely doing something right!

 

[Abriana]

My oldest is only two and a half, but they are proving to be healthy and strong. I have no doubt that they will happily grow old. I consider them beginning to get old at around 7.

 

[townchicks]

This thread is inspiring. My girls are only 2 1/2, but I hope they live into their teens.