Oldest Hen Age and Breed

[Karen Glatz]

I counted back, I have a easter egger hen that is in her 12th year. She lays greenish blue eggs, and every once in a while I'll find one with the others in the nest box.

 

[tviss711]

I currently own a hen who is, in theory, 11 years old. She is an Olive Egger we have deemed "Swayze" on account of her "mullet." Original owner who gave her to me said she was part of her second batch of chicks that she raised in 2014. If she is truly is that old, I am absolutely amazed with her. We were just happy to keep her for her golden years and as a companion to our hen who lost her sisters to a horrific dog attack from our neighbors. But, she laid 3 beautiful eggs last week! (however, she didn't lay at all for about 2 months after we got her) She is a sweet old girl!

 

[allen wranch]

My oldest was an old English Game Bantam hen who died 1 week short of 15 years old. She was also my first chicken to lay an egg.

A friend had a 17 year old hen.

 

[Edens_Echo]

My Easter Egger, Toasty Bernice, will be 9 years old in May. I don't think she lays eggs anymore but I haven't been able to confirm that. She has arthritis but with the help of supplements is still getting around well. Also have Ladybug the EE and Snowflake the White Plymouth Rock who will be 8 in May and both are currently laying.

I have a Toast and a Bernice too! (aka Bernie).

 

[Edens_Echo]

My oldest lady must be at least 11 now, based on her being here before my inherited farmhand started here, and she had already been around for at least a year or two according to previous owner.
She's a cute little RIR cross (apparently) who still lays eggs 4-5 days a week and broods more than her fair share of new chicks. A true farmyard champ!

 

[ladyhawke725]

I was wondering, for folks in this forum, what the age of the oldest hen you have kept? My oldest hen right now is an eight year old Barred Rock. Sadly, her health is failing and she probably won't make through the weekend. That being said, she has been a great bird since I broought her home as a chick. She was even laying eggs last year. This year, she hasn't been doing very good. But, I consider the birds as much pets as they are farm enimals, I let them live their old age out in my backyard.

My second oldest hen was a Deleware Hen that lived to seven and half years. Sadly, she died last year due to natural causes. The rest of my flock, two Easter Eggers, and a Russian Orloff, are nearing six years old and still lay eggs, though they take a break from October through mid January.

We had an Easter egger who lived to be just over 15 when she passed. She was a tough old girl. She even laid a blue egg every other year at the end.

 

[BDutch]

My oldest 'Ini mini' is 10. A Dutch bantam, as small as a pigeon. She was one of my first chickens.
Second and Third in line are Black & Pearl, from the first time I had broodies (spring 2015). They become 10 soon.

Did you ever hear of Peanut? She became 21 years old.

I keep track of my chickens ages and specialities in an App called Anymal. https://any-mal.com/en/faqs/ Its available in English too.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Oldest was Orpington 9; Welsummer 9. My oldest now is a 7year old EE which surprises me for a mix.

 

[PennelopeSpeaks]

I've had a Silkie and an Australorp live to 12, miss them very much two hens at 7 and 1 at 5 currently

 

[catballou]

I was wondering, for folks in this forum, what the age of the oldest hen you have kept? My oldest hen right now is an eight year old Barred Rock. Sadly, her health is failing and she probably won't make through the weekend. That being said, she has been a great bird since I broought her home as a chick. She was even laying eggs last year. This year, she hasn't been doing very good. But, I consider the birds as much pets as they are farm enimals, I let them live their old age out in my backyard.

My second oldest hen was a Deleware Hen that lived to seven and half years. Sadly, she died last year due to natural causes. The rest of my flock, two Easter Eggers, and a Russian Orloff, are nearing six years old and still lay eggs, though they take a break from October through mid January.

I've had two live to 14. One buff orpington and one large Easter egger. The buff laid eggs every single year, from April until July. Every other day. The Easter egger quit at about 10 years old.
I have a rir/polish cross thats about 8. She lays every 3 days now.