Official BYC Poll: How Old Is / Was Your Oldest Chicken?

[PioneerChicks]

She even looks old

You offended her!

I gotta agree though. She is missing several toenails and needs extra protein. I think she may be developing a few rooster qualities, but I'm not sure yet cuz she likes to take her time!

We used a heat lamp her first couple of winters (and therefore forced her to lay) and I think that impacted her a lot. But some of that "gray" is a few pin-feathers that won't sprout, no matter how much extra protein she gets.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

I am unable to answer that question with anything close to an actual number.
We started our flock with a foundling cockerel. Once he had a safe abode for himself and a number of hens, we went out to buy 3 hens for him. Although I had done a ton of reading on what to do and what not to do in order to keep chickens properly, I knew nothing about guessing the age of a hen. And, Man did the seller see me coming. We bought 3 hens, 1 was a Mille flore something, that was a full size hen. She was beautiful and friendly and I named her Ursula. I will never know how old she was when we got her, but she was my pride and joy. She never laid an egg, ever. So she was past laying age when we got her and we have had at least one hen who laid fewer and fewer eggs until she was 7 years old.
We had Ursula for about 8 years, I guess. So she would have been at least 10 years old and probably 15 or more. She was and always has been missed. One day perhaps I will tell a few Ursula stories, she was rather bossy, even with the Rooster.

 

[BarbaraJean67]

I have a retiree whos turning nine this spring!

That is Great!

 

[BarbaraJean67]

My oldest is a 2007 model rooster (14 years old)!

I

My oldest is a 2007 model rooster (14 years old)!

I didn't know they could live that long.

 

[BarbaraJean67]

What breed? That is a ripe old age for a chicken.

I have 2 elderly gals both bantam cochins between 8&11 years old.
They are amazing as we just came through lows of -16.

That is amazing for their ages!

 

[BarbaraJean67]

I've got 3 RIRs that will be turning 7 this spring. They are all doing pretty good for their age. View attachment 2532414
1 rooster and 2 hens

Beauties!

 

[BarbaraJean67]

I am unable to answer that question with anything close to an actual number.
We started our flock with a foundling cockerel. Once he had a safe abode for himself and a number of hens, we went out to buy 3 hens for him. Although I had done a ton of reading on what to do and what not to do in order to keep chickens properly, I knew nothing about guessing the age of a hen. And, Man did the seller see me coming. We bought 3 hens, 1 was a Mille flore something, that was a full size hen. She was beautiful and friendly and I named her Ursula. I will never know how old she was when we got her, but she was my pride and joy. She never laid an egg, ever. So she was past laying age when we got her and we have had at least one hen who laid fewer and fewer eggs until she was 7 years old.
We had Ursula for about 8 years, I guess. So she would have been at least 10 years old and probably 15 or more. She was and always has been missed. One day perhaps I will tell a few Ursula stories, she was rather bossy, even with the Rooster.

I'd love to hear the stories.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

As Ursula got older, she became a little slower to keep up with the rest of the flock. So when we would go out front to free range. I would carry her out first and the call the rest of the flock out. In the mornings when they were let out to free range the back yard, Ursula was always last to exit the coop, which irritated the Rooster. He would go in and out of the coop clucking at her to hurry and get her butt outside.
Once when we were free ranging the front yard, I called all the chickens in and went back to get Ursula. When I got to the front, Ursula had crossed the street and was high tailing it for the service alley behind the empty lot.
She was running away from home! I guess she was sick of the rooster bothering her. I ran over and got her, gave her some extra love and a few treats and put her back in her favorite place. She never tried to run away again, but I don't think she was very happy that she didn't get away before I got to her.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I have a rescued hen whose age is unknown. She was part of an abandoned FFA project at the high school where I work. That student has graduated from college now, so Jessamine must be at least 5 years old.

 

[human1]

my oldest are currently around 9 months (i havent been keeping chickens for that long yet )