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

[BurbCoop]

We lost a buff orpington last fall at 4.5yrs to cancer. We tried treating for EYP for a few days just in case, but the vet was fairly confident in his feeling a mass. He's one of the few vets locally that specializes in birds, so I trust his expertise. He told me that in his experience, most all of the hens he sees over age 4 have cancer, usually reproductive. It doesn't always kill them, but it's started somewhere in their body.

Humans have bred chickens for many, many years, but if we think about it it's probably only been in the last hundred years or less that we've desired long lived birds. Historically, humans wanted egg layers, then used the bird when egg production drops. I'm sure many hatcheries still breed for maximum eggs, not for healthy, long lived birds.

Interestingly, domestic rabbits have the same issue. Historically bred for production, not health. Also super active reproductive systems that get cancer fast. Spaying or neutering a domestic rabbit takes their average lifespan from 4-5 years to 8-10 years.

I'm currently battling suspected EYP in our 5 year old barred rock. Like many other posters in this thread, reading about 8-9 year old hens makes me feel like I'm doing something wrong.

Question for readers: what's your climate like? Do folks with longer lived birds live in less extreme climates?

Our climate is high desert. Dry, but seasonally can go from 110F to -10F. Our oldest bird is 5.

To your point, I think 4-6 years is probably the norm for backyard, non-production hens. Prior to the relatively recent craze in backyard chicken keeping, the hens would most likely have been processed as soon as egg production or quality dropped, unless it was a pet or favorite. All things considered equal across the flock members, I think 7-10+ years primarily comes down to the individual hen, with care, climate and other factors being secondary.

We live in Colorado and our girls see some crazy weather swings. They seem to thrive on it, lol.

 

[BurbCoop]

My temps can go from negatives to the hundreds. Hot horribly humid hundreds. Has not affected longevity. My best guess, and its only a guess, is that diet has more to do with it than anything else. Chickens need a wide variety of foods in their diet. Do you think processed feed might affect their bodies, the way its detrimental to ours?

I definitely think the case could be made that modern processed food can impact a chicken, just as it can a human, dog, cat or other living creature. That said, I also feel that you can have an entire flock on the same diet or in the same conditions, regardless of what it is, and some, even in the same batch, will outlive others by a mile. Just like some humans can live longer lives regardless of diet, environmental conditions, and climate. Is it that their particular genes are better equipped for the diet and conditions?

 

[BDutch]

I'm sure many hatcheries still breed for maximum eggs, not for healthy, long lived birds.

Apis malifera is right about factory farming and breeding for max egg production/day. The farmers are only interested in the egg production until the first moult. After 2 years these hens go to the spend meat factory (exeption are a few rescues).

Question for readers: what's your climate like? Do folks with longer lived birds live in less extreme climates?

The climate where I live (Netherlands), is very mild bc of a warm gulf-stream and the influence of the sea. Winter temps around or above freezing. Maybe 2 weeks continuous frost. Summer temps between 20 and 35 °C in the afternoon. Grass isn’t turning yellow every summer. The leaves start to fall in November. We have lovely blossoms and new leaves in March and April.

And yes, such a climate is easier for older chickens than hot desert climates or climates with long cold winters for sure.
Most days my 10+ oldies are not bothered with the weather. Today they were running for shelter because it started to poor very suddenly.

 

[Mrs. K]

Why do you want them to live such long lives? I keep a flock of chickens. I love healthy happy birds, I love to hatch with a broody hen, I enjoy providing food for my family. While I feel bad, when one dies, I rather expect some to go each year, sometimes it is surprising who it is.

I like a multi generational flock, and I expect birds to move in and out.

Mrs K

 

[dirkandlorie]

Why do you want them to live such long lives? I keep a flock of chickens. I love healthy happy birds, I love to hatch with a broody hen, I enjoy providing food for my family. While I feel bad, when one dies, I rather expect some to go each year, sometimes it is surprising who it is.

I like a multi generational flock, and I expect birds to move in and out.

Mrs K

Yes, I understand. There are people who keep chickens as livestock. But there are others who keep them as pets (with benefits). No-one wants their pets to die one day earlier than they have to.

 

[dirkandlorie]

I definitely think the case could be made that modern processed food can impact a chicken, just as it can a human, dog, cat or other living creature. That said, I also feel that you can have an entire flock on the same diet or in the same conditions, regardless of what it is, and some, even in the same batch, will outlive others by a mile. Just like some humans can live longer lives regardless of diet, environmental conditions, and climate. Is it that their particular genes are better equipped for the diet and conditions?

That can be true too. I wish someone would start a poll here on byc for chicken owners that have 8 year old plus chickens. What feed, extras, environment, free ranging, etc. Maybe we could narrow down some common items that are leading to longevity?

 

[BurbCoop]

That can be true too. I wish someone would start a poll here on byc for chicken owners that have 8 year old plus chickens. What feed, extras, environment, free ranging, etc. Maybe we could narrow down some common items that are leading to longevity?

Let’s do it - this is an interesting discussion It’s possible to start a poll, but that might be too limiting. A new thread asking for the specific points might do the trick. Just need to narrow down what points and possibly reference this thread for the why.

 

[BurbCoop]

That can be true too. I wish someone would start a poll here on byc for chicken owners that have 8 year old plus chickens. What feed, extras, environment, free ranging, etc. Maybe we could narrow down some common items that are leading to longevity?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-what-contributed-to-their-longevity.1667136/

 

[BDutch]

I like a multi generational flock, and I expect birds to move in and out.

Multi generational includes middle aged and elderly too IMO. You are right that they can be grandparents if you kill your chickens at the age of 3, but chickens are capable to live with approx 8 generations.

Your way is fine. But other people like to keep chickens as long as they are healthy or even beyond that and do everything they can to cure a sick chicken.

I don’t want to kill or eat chickens. And certainly not mine who I care for even though there are not real pets but my enjoyable backyard roamers. Most of them don’t like to be touched at all. Nevertheless I wish my chickens to have a long and healthy life. I only don’t want to go to a vet with them if they get sick. I rather spend the extra bucks on healthy organic feed.