Very Long lived birds question

[Mrs. K]

Yesterday, I found a dead bird. No predator, purple comb. Looked like a quick death, I assume a heart attack. And she was a production red, hatchery bird. I realize, not a long lived type.

But then I open this forum and people are posting that they have birds that live 8-10 years... I take reasonable care of my birds, I have never even come close. The oldest bird I have ever had in 15 years of birds, was going on 4.

So my question, is it temperature. Do those hard winters, stress birds out?

I do realize, that many of you rotate your birds out on a regular basis, but most of us, keep a special bird...just because. So if you have had a bird live longer than 4 years...where do you live?

Mrs K

 

[azygous]

I doubt temperature plays a significant role. I have one of those flocks that harbor geriatric chickens, and they are carrying the leucosis (LL)virus on top of coping with significantly cold winter temps which average in the low teens at night during the coldest four months and during the day, often below freezing here in the southern Rockies.

The geriatric group of retired layers include an eleven-year old Light Brahma, a ten-year old SLW, nine-year old Black Cochin and GLW, and an eight-year old Speckled Sussex, and she's slipping into "menopause" at present having laid regularly up to this point.

Still laying regularly are some six-year old Welsummers. All these chickens are in better health than I am and I'm pretty healthy for an old fart.

 

[keesmom]

I've had many live until 6-9, and have had some make it to double digits. Years ago I had a flock of old farts (9-12 yo) roaming the yard. Unfortunately a coyote wiped them out so I'm not sure how long they would have lived.

 

[red horse ranch]

I have 32 chickens and 10 of them are over 6 years old. The oldest will be 12 late this spring. Two 9 year olds and several 8, 7 and 6 years. Our winters are very cold up here with quite a bit of below zero weather. Some days it's not above zero.

I don't think temperatures are as big a factor as how they have lived. Mine free range all their life. But they have an insulated 12 x 16 henhouse and a small (100 watt) heat lamp hanging over the water when the temp is below zero. It rarely gets below 15 degrees inside with the heat produced by the birds themselves. They have high quality layer feed and kitchen scraps year round and ground venison with fat in the winter.

I'm not sure why my chickens live so long. But I like it!

 

[Fishkeeper]

The more eggs they lay, the harder it is on their body, and the shorter their lifespan. I'd imagine one thing that probably helps is getting the breeds that lay less.

 

[Mrs. K]

well I wonder what I am doing wrong?

 

[Mrs. K]

so all of you would click the poll, you would all pick the below 20 degrees below zero... hmmm

 

[Cyprus]

I have a 6 yr old Red Ranger (meat breed) hen. And I had a 7-8yr old D'Uccle hen who died last winter from a skunk. A friend of mine has had birds easily live past 8 yrs old.
We both live in SE Wisconsin where winters easily hit below -20.

 

[Cyprus]

And I do almost nothing for my birds. They have to find most of their own food and water when it isn't winter or they can't get outside.

 

[BY Bob]

The more eggs they lay, the harder it is on their body, and the shorter their lifespan. I'd imagine one thing that probably helps is getting the breeds that lay less.

For me it has been directly tied to type of bird. Chickens that are prolific layers tend to have reproductive issues and that has brought most of my heavy layers to an early demise. It gets to -10° here. Cold does not seem to impact mine.