Oldest Hen Age and Breed

[Afterburner]

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.

 

[townchicks]

My oldest was a RIR, who passed at eight years. She still laid, up to a few weeks before she passed.

 

[rosemarythyme]

My oldest (a Welsummer) will be 9 years come May. She's slowed down but still has good ranking in the flock. She's been squatting but I hope she won't lay any longer as she's has issues with thin shells the last few years - otherwise I'll need to supplement her throughout her lay cycle.

 

[Sally PB]

My three original chickens are 5 years old today! They are Black Australorps, still lay sporadically.

 

[MommyGirl]

I started keeping chickens in 2020 so my oldest are 5 years old. They all still lay and even lay some eggs in the winter but I guess maybe that’s because of our mild winters

 

[Evadig]

My oldest hens, that I just adopted, will be six in a few months. My oldest hens that I raised from chicks will be three...I think?

 

[Noraaaaa]

My oldest hen is mamma hen and she is a 5 year old austrolorp! She has raised 10+ chickens but only one (4 year old buckeye hen) is still alive.

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

I think the oldest I've heard of was 12. the oldest bird I personally owned was a nine year old Australorp, but she died shortly after I got her. I can't really remember, but I think my first chicken was seven or eight when she died. that was years ago now, and was also the day I learned RIR can and will cannibalise the remains of their flock members

 

[CombNWattles]

My oldest was Sweet Cheeks at 9 years old. She was a barnyard mix, but I suspect silkie and ameraucana due to her purple skin, some tiny feathers on her feet, the muffs, and the shape of her hackles.
She was a sweet, feisty little old lady.

 

[Paz]

My oldest is an Arabic local, she’s 9 years old and lays during spring and summer, and she’s a sweetheart! She brooded most of my flock.