Life span of black sex-link.

[keds45]

I know they aren't really a "breed" of chicken, just a 'type" of chicken.

I' heard somewhere that they didn't live very long--like around three years. Is this true? Hoping not because I have one that is around 2 1/2 and I really like her!!!

 

[SouthCoastguy]

I don't know, but hope they live longer than that! I have 3 hens, a golden sex link, black sex link, and Rhode Island red...and the black sex link is the friendliest and my favorite! I hope she lives for a long time!


I have lots of pictures of them on my blog, if your interested
http://myattemptatgardening.blogspot.com/

 

[keds45]

I know!!! I love mine! She is so nice! But she has laid an egg pretty close to everyday for almost 2 years! well, she did slow slow down quite a bit this last dec-jan. That has to be draining.

 

[Illia]

They're often expected to live shorter than most other actual breeds, yes, because of egg troubles. But don't worry too much, it doesn't happen to all of them.

 

[equestrian47]

I just found one of my black sex link chickens dead in the hen house. Four hours ago, she was just running around the yard with the rest of the chickens so I thought I would look online to see what the life span is supposed to be. She and the other sex link chickens I have lay almost every day. Did anyone ever find a definite answer to this question? This Chicken was only 10 months old and had seemed very healthy even 4 hours ago. The black sex links are so beautiful!

 

[rainbowrooster]

Chickens have life spans as varied as humans however, the hybrid egg layers are on the short end of the spectrum. Maybe you get lucky and one lives a long time but count on it.

 

[RayMondo]

I just lost one of my black sex link hens today. She is the first that I did not lose to predators as two of them before her. I have 3 left and they were hatched 3/16/20. I raised them from 3 days old. They stopped laying altogether over a month ago.
She had been acting goofy for about a week. I thought she was getting senile or something. When I took them their food scraps before sundown she was the only one that didn't come running. She wasn't being pecked or anything by the others so I don't think she was sick. She looked healthy but I noticed she wasn't around the yard this afternoon so I check the coop to see if she was pushing one more egg thru but I found her sitting in the doorway of the coop. Her eyes were glossy and she cooed when I pet her but she looked weak. I tried to put a dab of Ivermectin in her beak but she wouldn't open her mouth. I left and went back about 20 minutes later and it was time to grab the shovel. She was warm under the wings but she was gone. I don't know if she was safe to stew or soup or I would have.
I thanked her for all the eggs and laughs she provided for almost 3 years, said a prayer and covered her.

 

[PopoMyers]

@RayMondo so sorry for your loss.

 

[Drtrabol]

I just lost one of my black sex link hens today. She is the first that I did not lose to predators as two of them before her. I have 3 left and they were hatched 3/16/20. I raised them from 3 days old. They stopped laying altogether over a month ago.
She had been acting goofy for about a week. I thought she was getting senile or something. When I took them their food scraps before sundown she was the only one that didn't come running. She wasn't being pecked or anything by the others so I don't think she was sick. She looked healthy but I noticed she wasn't around the yard this afternoon so I check the coop to see if she was pushing one more egg thru but I found her sitting in the doorway of the coop. Her eyes were glossy and she cooed when I pet her but she looked weak. I tried to put a dab of Ivermectin in her beak but she wouldn't open her mouth. I left and went back about 20 minutes later and it was time to grab the shovel. She was warm under the wings but she was gone. I don't know if she was safe to stew or soup or I would have.
I thanked her for all the eggs and laughs she provided for almost 3 years, said a prayer and covered her.

Just lost my first black sexed link in almost exact way -she was a little over 3 and my Isa brown the same way a few months ago. I just don’t think they have as long life expectancies due to their very high egg production. I’ve been blessed with not losing any to predators - even though we were attacked 1 time. They had great lives - were my favorite and first chickens that got me on this journey over 3 years ago - I now have 2 roosters and now only 17 hens! I’m so glad that I did start this journey / I never knew how much I would enjoy having them as pets and friends that give you a wonderful gift almost every day. Thank you for sharing your story.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

My oldest one was 5 or 6, but was snagged by a coyote. We did have a red aexlink get to 9 though before her health issues caught up to her