Topic of the Week - How long do chickens live?

[Watolf]

My oldest one passed away is wheaten ameraucana, she was 7 1/2 and free range outside. I did bring her to vet once because her both feet color green and feel little hotter. Only found it was infection and got antibiotics for her. She healed but her toes is dead after recovery. It’s fall off and she is still roosting without any feet. She been happy for other 1-2 years and passed away. She was adopted from my nurse due of she was too mean to her chickens.

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

A chicken's average lifespan when exposed to disease and predation is usually a maximum of eight years, however they have been known to live around thirty years if they are not exposed to as many outdoor issues. Currently, my flock's known oldest is a group of hens around the age of four years old; but my rooster, Phoenix, who I received from a backyard breeder clearly acts and feels much older than that.

 

[Chullicken]

My precious Bunting is 9 years old and doing exceptional, though everyday I get home I 'fear' I'll find her not well. She's OLD for a chicken and still perfect in my eyes~

 

[The Birb King]

My oldest hen is about 11 at this point. She's a Dutch bantam

 

[The Chicken Eggspert]

My friend has a bantam light brahma that is almost 16 years old.

 

[Meri Maura]

In my flock 4 or 5 years was average, while I had many 6-8 year olds and several 8-11. I believe I had four 9 year Olds, and two 10 year Olds, and one 11 year old.

 

[dbounds10]

View attachment 2975589

Many of us have or had the odd chicken that seems to have been around forever, year after year, laying the odd egg still, if a hen, slowly fading as time goes by… If not killed by predators, disease, mishaps, culling, or processed for the table, chickens can live a fairly long life. I'm curious to hear what age your oldest flock members reached and...

- What is the average lifespan of a chicken?
- When is a bird too old to live a quality life?
- What can you do to make sure your oldest flock members are happy and comfortable?

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My oldest girl lived to be 12 before she was snatched by something and I couldn’t save her.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

My 2 oldest hens are 3 1/2 right now, they are from my first flock. I read this the other day, it warmed my heart.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smar...-living-chicken-at-21-years-of-age-180982850/

 

[BDutch]

My 2 oldest hens are 3 1/2 right now, they are from my first flock. I read this the other day, it warmed my heart.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smar...-living-chicken-at-21-years-of-age-180982850/

Great article.
Got the feeling that she wouldn’t have survived outside in the coop. And spending her very old days inside the house is a way to extend her natural life.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Great article.
Got the feeling that she wouldn’t have survived outside in the coop. And spending her very old days inside the house is a way to extend her natural life.

Yeah, her and her 15 yr old daughter have got a great life! I loved the video of her on the carpet wobbling around clucking!