In your flock, what is the average lifespan of your hens?

[5templetonchicks]

We’ve had chickens for 4 years, all came from TSC. After weeding out the roosters, we ended with 4 hens. (We just got chicks again this spring, so I’m talking about our OG girls.) Over the years, we’ve lost one at about 1.5years to a heart attack, another to ascites at just under 4 years old, and another 4 year old is starting to have problems that make me think we won’t have her too much longer.

This made me curious what the average lifespan is in other’s flocks? I’ve googled and it said like 8 years…I’m just wanting real world answers. I know there are some chickens who live very long lives but I wonder - are they the minority? Just curious. What is considered “old age” in chickens?

 

[5templetonchicks]

After having a small flock of 5 chickens for years, I now have 3 left. The oldest is a Silver Hamburg, who is 7 years old and still laying on average 4 eggs a week. Then I have a brown lace Wyandotte, 6 years old, who lays almost daily, although tends to go broody at the drop of a hat. And a Buff Orpington, also 6 years old, who lays on average 4 eggs a week. All in all, plenty of eggs to keep my husband and me supplied.

 

[Horseladywithchickens]

Do hens stop laying if it gets too hot?I'm talking upper 90s with heat index of 103 and higher.

 

[Horseladywithchickens]

I'm focused on making sure my birds have plenty of shade and water with good air flow but have noticed they have stopped laying. They are not molting.

 

[SueT]

Do hens stop laying if it gets too hot?I'm talking upper 90s with heat index of 103 and higher.

It's like that here. Most of mine slow way down.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

When the egg laying falls off, average 4-5 yrs then they get their walking papers, not going to feed a non producer.

 

[SueT]

Re older chickens, I have a 7 yr old and an 8 yr old. They've earned the right to be permanent residents here, wise old girls.
They both came from a local hatchery and they both still lay eggs.

 

[Horseladywithchickens]

When the egg laying falls off, average 4-5 yrs then they get their walking papers, not going to feed a non producer.

Mine are 2 and younger.

 

[Horseladywithchickens]

Re older chickens, I have a 7 yr old and an 8 yr old. They've earned the right to be permanent residents here, wise old girls.
They both came from a local hatchery and they both still lay eggs.

I have an 8 yr old porcelain d'uccle that has just stopped laying and a 2 yr old that has never laid. Both are in the grow up pen as surrogate mom's to the new babies I've added. The silkie duccle hen has had them under wings on occasion

 

[jcoz]

Eight years sounds about right, depending on conditions. I had two of my three 10+ year olds pass this year but the rest of my flock are five years. Well and the 12 in the brooder.