Older Hen Behavior

[lbgreenfield]

Hi! I have a mixed age+breed flock. My 4 older hens are going on 3 years old. My 6 young hens are about 6 months old.

While my young hens are off wandering around, scratching, walking all over kingdom come, my older hens just like to sit most of the time (haha). They walk around a bit, then will take a nap, walk around for a few minutes, then back to sitting on the patio, get up to take a drink, back to patio napping. The older hens are the last remaining of my original, first flock and are much more attached to me than the younger ones (despite me doing the same things with them that I did with the older ones).

Anyone else have older hens that just like to nap, sit, and keep you company? Mine follow me around and when I sit on the patio or somewhere else outside, they all like to sit and take naps near me or on my lap

I was just curious of older hen behavior. Some have arthritis/gout and limp around, so they are not as young as they used to be, but all act normal and are still producing an egg every few days.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Heartwarming story.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Older birds will slow down, both with laying and overall activity. As long as they're still somewhat active and eating/drinking fine, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

 

[CluckerFamily]

I have 7 of my 8 original hens. They are 7 years old. They have slowed down in egg production and behavior but they still follow be around and they love to critique my digging abilities in the garden. They do rest a little more than the younger hens. They truly enjoy the shade under the lilac bush and they purr when the wind calmly blows.

 

[lbgreenfield]

Older birds will slow down, both with laying and overall activity. As long as they're still somewhat active and eating/drinking fine, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Thanks, I wasn’t worried, just curious as to what everyone else’s older hens do since mine all like to stay together and take naps all the time haha

 

[lbgreenfield]

I have 7 of my 8 original hens. They are 7 years old. They have slowed down in egg production and behavior but they still follow be around and they love to critique my digging abilities in the garden. They do rest a little more than the younger hens. They truly enjoy the shade under the lilac bush and they purr when the wind calmly blows.

Aw how cute! Mine purr when they are napping on the patio with me.

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

That’s nice that they want to hang out with you.

 

[lbgreenfield]

That’s nice that they want to hang out with you.

The older ones definitely enjoy being near us when we are outside. They are more social than my younger ones.