Is 4 Years Average for Chickens?

[thomasboyle]

I have lost 4 chickens in the past month, presumably from old age. All of them have died in the coop, no injuries, no trauma etc. They have all been from my 1st generation of chickens that I bought as chicks in July 2010. Three were White Leghorns and one was a Rhode Island Red. Is this a normal lifespan for these breeds?

I have two other generations of hens in my flock, one group is 2 years old, and the second group is 6 months old, and these birds are all fine, so I don't think I have any illness etc. I had expected the hens to live longer.

 

[Folly's place]

Nearly nobody selects for longevity in chickens; certainly no hatchery. Hens bred for maximum egg production are very prone to diseases of the reproductive tract, and come from parents who may be culled after only one year. Many birds die at three or four years of age, or sooner. My oldest hens lived to ten years of age, but that is uncommon. If you have your birds posted, or look yourself, you will see what happens. Mary

 

[Traphill]

I had my three 3 yr old Red Sex links all die within weeks of each other, just found them dead in the coop, none of my other chickens are sick so I just attribute it to their breed and being egg laying machines. They had stopped laying last fall and they didn't molt with my other chickens which went thru a hard one and then went on to lay again this past spring and continue to.

 

[Mrs. K]

I think that is fairly common age for chickens. That is what mine generally are...... I have a BO that will be coming 3 next spring, and I am hoping I get one more year from her. She is a favorite, and has raised 3 clutches for me.

 

[artsyrobin]

had one growing up that lived to be 12, my oldest girl is 6, but from what i have seen it seems 5-7 is pretty much the longest. Traphill is right, those like the sex links are shorter lived

 

[donrae]

That seems to be a popular time for hens to go. I've had hatchery birds live (and still lay!) at 7, but most don't make it that long for one reason or another.