In your flock, what is the average lifespan of your hens?

[loohoo]

We’ve had chickens for 4 years, all came from TSC. After weeding out the roosters, we ended with 4 hens. (We just got chicks again this spring, so I’m talking about our OG girls.) Over the years, we’ve lost one at about 1.5years to a heart attack, another to ascites at just under 4 years old, and another 4 year old is starting to have problems that make me think we won’t have her too much longer.

This made me curious what the average lifespan is in other’s flocks? I’ve googled and it said like 8 years…I’m just wanting real world answers. I know there are some chickens who live very long lives but I wonder - are they the minority? Just curious. What is considered “old age” in chickens?

 

[swamphiker]

I personally haven't had any chickens survive to 8 years old, though I've only had a small flock for a few years. I recently lost my oldest OG chicken, a Rhode Island Red, to suspected reproductive cancer (no necropsy so I can't be for sure) at around 4.5 yo. I also had to euthanize my red sex-link around 3 years old with similar symptoms. Prior to that, I had a buff Orpington die suddenly around 2 years old of unknown causes.

The higher production breeds typically have shorter lifespans, which explains most of my "early" losses. Which breeds of chickens do you have?

 

[Mrs. K]

IMO a healthy flock is a multi-generational flock. So I add chicks each year and remove birds each year.

In my flock, a 4-5 year old bird is an old bird. Death due to natural causes starts occurring around 3+ years. Your birds seem to following that too.

Some people want the to live forever, I don’t. They get arthritic, the egg quality goes down. I figure mine have a good life. That is the part I can control. When they die is just a fact of life. It is not fun, but then you can add new chicks.

So I keep a flock…and Mrs. Feathers. I think she is 6. She is my oldie, she just hatched out three. She gets to stay, but I will give the coup de grace if she suffers.

So as to your question some say heritage birds live longer, and people on here have flocks of birds that I would consider ancient as in over 8 years old. But mine, generally live 3-4 years. I don’t worry about it.

Mrs K

 

[HollowOfWisps]

A lot of that is going to depend on breeding and husbandry. The production and majority of meat breeds are not bred with health/lifespan in mind, but how much they can produce out egg or meat wise. This type of breeding greatly reduces lifespan. On the other hand the heritage breeds tend to live longer. Quality of food, life and environment are also going to play a fairly large role. I would consider 4-5 years is getting on the older side for most breeds excluding production and meat I would say 2-3 years is old. An 8 year old chicken I would say is more of an exception not the rule for age.

 

[loohoo]

I personally haven't had any chickens survive to 8 years old, though I've only had a small flock for a few years. I recently lost my oldest OG chicken, a Rhode Island Red, to suspected reproductive cancer (no necropsy so I can't be for sure) at around 4.5 yo. I also had to euthanize my red sex-link around 3 years old with similar symptoms. Prior to that, I had a buff Orpington die suddenly around 2 years old of unknown causes.

The higher production breeds typically have shorter lifespans, which explains most of my "early" losses. Which breeds of chickens do you have?

That sounds similar to our flock! The youngest one we lost at 1.5 years due to a suspected heart attack was a Buff Orpington, the one who died of ascites at just under 4 years old was a Barred Rock (she struggled with reproductive issues the majority of her life honestly…she was the healthiest when she was off lay due to molting or whatever.) and the latest 4 year old who is starting to show issues is a Buff Orpington. I’ve only got two of my originals left and she’s one of them- the rest are young, one new layer (a Barred Rock) and the rest haven’t started laying yet (EEs and Light Brahmas)

 

[MamaPoult]

4-5 in mine. I live in a harsh climate though

 

[loohoo]

IMO a healthy flock is a multi-generational flock. So I add chicks each year and remove birds each year.

In my flock, a 4-5 year old bird is an old bird. Death due to natural causes starts occurring around 3+ years. Your birds seem to following that too.

Some people want the to live forever, I don’t. They get arthritic, the egg quality goes down. I figure mine have a good life. That is the part I can control. When they die is just a fact of life. It is not fun, but then you can add new chicks.

So I keep a flock…and Mrs. Feathers. I think she is 6. She is my oldie, she just hatched out three. She gets to stay, but I will give the coup de grace if she suffers.

So as to your question some say heritage birds live longer, and people on here have flocks of birds that I would consider ancient as in over 8 years old. But mine, generally live 3-4 years. I don’t worry about it.

Mrs K

Thank you! I was kind of wondering if I was doing something wrong when I saw what Google said was the average age…that makes me feel better that aside from the early loss at 1.5 years old, the rest seem to be leading average length lives!

 

[loohoo]

A lot of that is going to depend on breeding and husbandry. The production and majority of meat breeds are not bred with health/lifespan in mind, but how much they can produce out egg or meat wise. This type of breeding greatly reduces lifespan. On the other hand the heritage breeds tend to live longer. Quality of food, life and environment are also going to play a fairly large role. I would consider 4-5 years is getting on the older side for most breeds excluding production and meat I would say 2-3 years is old. An 8 year old chicken I would say is more of an exception not the rule for age.

Thanks! I had a hunch that 8 was more of an exception but hearing it from others makes me feel better - like, I’m ok with my girls leading average length lives (obviously it’s sad to lose them regardless but it’s a part of life), I was just worried after seeing that “average” that maybe I was doing something wrong!

 

[loohoo]

4-5 in mine. I live in a harsh climate though

Thanks! That’s what the average is trending towards in my flock too.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

This is a really good question and I've arrived at 4-5 too, for Hatchery chickens. I really wouldn't want a 8 year old chicken. I had someone call me evil when I told the trust that when my 5 year old hen died, I wasn't heartbroken. She lived her best chicken life as they all do in my care and now there is room for a newbie. It's life. I'm not going to pretend that I wish they stop laying at 2-3 but continue living here forever.