Longest-lived breeds

[Rise722]

What breeds of chickens live the longest? I've been researching some breeds and find they only live 4-5 years, because of constant egg production. Which breeds might live longer, and maybe not put so much into egg laying?

 

[Folly's place]

I've never had them, but was told by a Cubalya breeder that his birds often did well into their teens.
My oldest hens have been ten, a Belgian d'Uccle, and two very small Jersey Giants.
Mary

 

[Gray Farms]

I have a Swedish Flower Hen that is 7 years old and still laying very good. And a 10 year old Millie Fluer English Orpington hen that lays one or two eggs a week.

It depends more on the individual than the breed. Old birds can be found in nearly every breed.

 

[Amer]

I’ve heard that game fowl have a lot longer life span than usual. And I have heard of a breeder of Crevecouers with a very long lifespan being quite common birds. But the breeder also made that one of her goals, along with fertility and body size. So you may need to breed towards it like any trait.

 

[Folly's place]

I value my older birds, and try to hatch eggs from them. Economical? Not at all, because their egg production falls off over time, and cock bird fertility can suffer too. That's why almost everyone breeds young birds only.
Selecting for a long and healthy life matters to me, and to some others.
This includes not having any birds with health issues, ever, in the breeding pen
Mary