Industrial producers want chickens who lay eggs as fast as possible in as short a period as they can manage. Very little attention was given to a chicken’s life expectancy, health, or other genetic traits. This article contains incorrect information, This article is missing information that I need. And here again, the essential question is whether to prioritize high production or a longer laying period, as the two are usually mutually exclusive. Luckily, this isn’t a factor that comes into play very often anymore when you are considering the lifespan of a chicken. The reason for that is that bantam and dwarf birds have much less body mass to maintain than, say, a Brahma hen. 5 years ago To my knowledge, the maximum lifespan for a chicken is 10-15 years. The average wild chicken will only live for about a year or two, if that. Sep 8, 2011. After that, egg production will taper off. They tend to be shorter than those of hens, even from the same breed and living in the same conditions. Even for people who love their birds and are fully prepared to care for them for 15 years or more, sometimes it can become necessary to find a new home for their flock. Breeds like Rhode Island Reds live eight years or more and Plymouth Rocks might survive 10 to 12 years when they are raised in a good environment. Production will start to taper off after that point. A smart bird is much less likely to fall victim to a predator, so it’s a trait that is highly desirable when it comes to evolution. This is not a problem that you will have to worry about as often if you have a closed flock that isn’t exposed to outside disease. Therefore, it’s uncommon for them to live long out in the wild. Most young laying hens – known as pullets until they are one year old – start laying eggs when they are roughly 18 weeks of age. Remember, hens can live for several years after they stop laying eggs. This hybrid chicken breed is another to cross off your list if you’re interested in raising chickens until they are geriatrics! Why Do Chickens Lay Unfertilized Eggs? Hi, I'm Kevin. And on the industrial degree, it’s closer to 2 years, and also in some cases much less. They’re generally more difficult to rehome than a cat or dog that can be given away or dropped off at a shelter. Although there are some benefits to do this, it was very easy for chickens to be trampled on by the larger animals. Chickens bred for meat, on the other hand, don't enjoy nearly as long a life. Heavier, large-bodied chickens tend to meet their demise much earlier, so bantams might have an advantage here. How to make chickens lay more eggs: Why are my flocks not laying at the appropriate age? The question “how long do chickens live” is almost impossible to answer with any certainty. Matilda, a Red Pyle chicken, broke a Guinness World Record for the world’s oldest living chicken, reaching the age of 16 years. As anyone with aches and pains can tell you, aging (even gracefully) means slowing down, and this also holds true for hens and their egg laying. This depends on the breed, though, and on the conditions in which the hens are raised. Perhaps someone wanted to try out chicken-keeping and has come to realize it isn’t for them. Epic Gardening occasionally links to goods or services offered by vendors to help you find the best products to care for plants. Some chickens are very attentive to their surroundings – especially when free-ranging – while others will wander blindly into danger. It doesn’t just have to be chickens, either. When it is raised properly, it can live for six years or more. With proper care and nutrition the average chicken can live from eight to ten years,with empirical exceptions running to 12 and 15 years. Know Your Chickens is a free resource dedicated to teaching backyard chicken owners more about their flock. Chickens can easily contract illnesses from wild birds, rodents, and other creatures. A chicken (called a pullet until she is a year old), begins laying eggs when she is about 18 to 20 weeks old or so. Do Hens Lay Eggs Every Day? Breed variation is probably the biggest factor in how long a chicken will live and the most reliable indicator of their natural lifespan. Here are a few chicken breeds with the shortest lifespans: The Golden Comet chicken is one of the best breeds you can raise if you want to produce a ton of eggs. Chickens begin laying eggs between 18-20 weeks of age and can lay eggs as long as her productive lifetime allows. This means that, after their top-performance years, hens still have from 5 to 8 (or maybe even 17) more years to go. Another favorite heritage breed is the Orpington chicken. Many of these characteristics are passed down through a breed and can help increase a chicken’s overall lifespan. Some research indicates that the average hen will produce about 600 eggs in her lifetime. Chickens vs Guinea Hens: How to Choose Which to Raise, Introducing New Chickens to Your Flock (How-To Guide). There are all kinds of animals that like the taste of chicken, including coyotes, snakes, hawks, raccoons, snakes, wild dogs, cats, and more. A few larger breeds, such as Brahmas, Cochins, and Jersey Giants may not start producing until 26 or even 28 weeks of age. Since it is a heritage chicken, it’s genetic lineage is more or less the same as it was when it first came about. How long do chickens lay eggs? While recent events have only accelerated the trend towards city-dwellers, urban gardeners, and suburbanites keeping their own chickens, buying any animal based on a trend or whim is a dangerous proposition. The first eggs will likely be smaller and increase in size over time. That doesn’t mean that their production stays high for their entire life; it gradually decreases. For example, parasites like mites, lice, and worms can all cause skin irritation, feather damage, anemia, and discomfort. Now, however, chickens have access to food that is specially formulated for each unique stage of life. Most chickens begin to lay at about 20 weeks of age. Many laying hens can live several years into retirement with average life expectancy between 8 and 10 years. It is very common for chickens to succumb to other causes before they can live out their full life spans. This is likely because of their tendency to charge toward a threat instead of run away – which can lead them to fall victim to a variety of threats. Over my 20 years in poultry production and management, I have been asked this question repeatedly on phone, in seminars, in conferences and during my visits to flock units across the region.. Because of this, they are more likely to be raised in excellent conditions with all the food and water they want along with ample excess to fresh air and limited threats from predators and the weather. If that proves unsuccessful, a farm-specific animal rescue is probably the last best option. They were bred during the Middle Ages especially for cockfights – these chickens really know how to fend for themselves! But raw numbers don’t tell the whole story. Thread starter #2 pax12 Crowing. This might include a tendency towards disease or illness that can drastically shorten a chicken’s lifespan. An Honest Look, Can Chickens Swim? After this, they will start to taper off. Matilda lived from 1990 to 2006- that’s sixteen years, and more than double the average life expectancy for a chicken! She is the managing editor of the website Chickens and More. Known as parent birds, ... HOW LONG DO BROILER CHICKENS LIVE? Some breeds that are known for laying a lot of eggs – including hybrid chickens like Golden Comets – may stop laying even sooner, at around two years. Just the switch from an industrial hybrid to a heritage production strain will likely double the years of high-production egg laying to three or four years. This means a lot of production birds, especially the modern hybrids, are laying eggs almost every day for 18 months or two years and then stop or reduce capacity dramatically. Most hens lay eggs until they are about three years old. We've got answers from a guest. Many families start raising backyard chickens each spring. Bantams are usually raised as pet chickens and not for egg or meat production of any kind. Another way in which the life expectancy of a chicken has increased is in diet and nutrition. Generally speaking, chickens can live for many years. Either way, rehoming chickens is tricky. Because this chicken is so large, it has a short lifespan – often, it will only live for five to six years, even if raised in picture-perfect conditions. Feb 7, 2008 2,951 64 261 PA. Opps I put it in the wrong place . In general, the shortest-lived chickens are high-production hybrid egg layers, and the hens that lay the fewest eggs live the longest lives. A well-cared-for hen that is kept safe from predators, for example, could live as long as 12 years. Add to Favorites . What’s truly interesting is that she never laid a single egg, which could be why she lived so long. Therefore, anyone looking to get their first flock of chickens should not only ask themselves how they’re going to care for them, but how long they’re willing to do so. Their eggs take 21 days to develop and hatch. PUBLISHED ON April 16, 2019. When asking how long does a chicken live, there’s one last thing to cover: the lifespans of roosters. You can extend your hen’s egg-laying season by providing artificial light in the hen house. These chickens only live for a few years on average. In the same way that larger birds need more energy and their bodies need to do more to stay alive, a chicken that lays five or six eggs a week uses up a lot of energy and nutrients to produce those eggs. However, there is some truth to this, too. Chickens that are well-fed and cared for can live for years, much longer than most people realize. How Long Do Chickens Live? There are exceptions to this, like the aforementioned Rhode Island Red which are long-lived reliable egg layers. Page 1 of 1: How long do free range hens normally live and how many years do they typically lay eggs? However, once chickens were kept by humans, more or less as pets (that also pooped breakfast!) There are compromise choices, such as a production strain of a heritage breed. For instance, you may want to avoid feeding too many treats, as it can lead to obesity, and you might also want to avoid excess protein, too. Nowadays, chickens have specially built coops that are made to protect them in the summer and winter months. There’s also the little fact that most chickens people raise are intended to be food – and you can bet those poor souls don’t get to live 8 years (try 8 weeks). Old English Game Fowl are rare, but highly prized among poultry breeders. Chickens are living longer lives simply because they are being cared for properly and there is more attention devoted to disease prevention and treatment. Backyard hens can lay up to 250 eggs in their first year. What age do chickens usually start laying eggs? During this period of less egg laying, the eggs may be larger. In contrast, high-production hybrids and other birds selected to have specific traits will tend towards shorter lifespans. Chris has been raising backyard chickens for over 20 years. This is fine for an industrial set-up where the bird can simply be replaced once she stops laying eggs, but less than ideal for many backyard homesteaders who want a steady supply over several years. As anyone who’s started a chicken-keeping venture will tell you, keeping chickens requires a lot of infrastructure and planning. Reasons your chickens are not laying. Once they start laying, you can expect them to lay at their peak for just two years. Roosters don’t live a long time, and hens tend to live longer. This principle is perhaps best demonstrated by Matilda, the previous world record holder for oldest chicken. A new pullet has 15,000 (or more) microscopic eggs in her ovaries at the time of hatching but will not actually lay that many as an adult. Healthy chickens lay eggs most reliably in their first 2 to 3 years. Knowing this in advance gives you a realistic basis from which to begin, and you can prepare for a long-lived, healthy flock. Even minor issues, like parasites and lice, can slowly drain away the energy reserves of a chicken and reduce its overall lifespan. After all, they will be more likely to fall victim to predators and the elements than if they were being raised in captivity. Sorry Chicken Your Eggs Are Mine! Like dogs, small chickens live longer than larger ones. After that, they will be slaughtered for their meat. This, however, may be somewhat anecdotal, as there are dozens of types of bantam breeds that you can choose from, all of which have different genetics and behavioral tendencies. Chicken Diapers: Should You Really Use Them on Your Chickens? In most cases, a chicken can live between five and ten years. In the past, chickens ate table scraps and whatever the farmer wanted to throw their way. Chickens are exposed to many more risks when they have to fend for themselves. The average chicken may live for five to ten years, depending on the breed. Over time, chickens began to live longer and longer and those traits were bred into successive generations. The oldest chicken on record was an OEGB hen who lived 15-16 years. Here’s a fun fact – the world’s oldest living chicken actually has a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. Not only is it usually butchered off at twelve weeks, but its fast growth rate leads to a lot of health problems, like heart failure. Chicken housing is far better than what it used to be. Some chickens have been known to live up to 15 years, but most healthy, well-kept chickens live 5-8 years. The world's oldest known chicken was a hen which died of heart failure at the age of 16 years according to the Guinness World Records. Chickens can live up to 8 or 10 years, but there have been cases in which 20 year old backyard chickens are found roaming around like they are still 5! Most young laying hens – known as pullets until they are one year old – start laying eggs when they are roughly 18 weeks of age. The first eggs will likely be smaller and increase in size over time. However, you’re not likely to find them in most flocks, as they are so difficult to keep in captivity. A chicken was merely a chicken. I mean, do these wacky little birds lay eggs throughout their entire lives? Farmers want answers and they want to see actions that will unlock this problem instantly. There are ways you can manipulate the diet of your chickens to help them live longer, healthier lives. Not only can this also lead to weight issues, but it can also create kidney problems. If you live in a region with mild winters, you may have chickens that lay later in the season. With spring in full force and days getting longer, backyard flock raisers are experiencing two fun moments: New baby chicks and egg production picking up again from the adult flock. Your best bet is probably a local farm that already keeps chickens on a large scale, somewhere where adding your flock to the mix won’t require major recalculations. Once she has produced a clutch of eggs the hen will stop laying and start brooding, which involves sitting on the eggs … Chickens’ ancestors are wild birds, whose life expectancy was only a few years at best due to natural predation. This bird can live much longer than the average bird of other breeds. Chickens are omnivores. We’ll talk about the average age that chickens start to lay eggs, how breed plays a role, and a few tell-tale signs that eggs are on the way. Hens lay almost every day for around 2 years, once they have started (at around 7 months old). They are prone to a variety of health issues related to their high egg production, including tumors in the digestive tract. As a laid back, docile bird, it takes a lot to get the Orpington chicken too excited. It must meet the American Poultry Association standard for the breed and come from pure stock, too. Gender. Despite being a heritage breed, however, it’s not one of the longest-lived. Normally, chickens lay their eggs in spring or summer seasons but these chickens in commercial farms keep laying eggs all year round with a small window of relief. How long do chickens lay eggs? Be mindful of your birds’ living conditions and make sure their home is clean and sanitary at all times to reduce this threat. Click here to read the full article. So excluding death from predator loss/disease/cull for food, most chickens could probably live a good decade to decade and a half. In the wild, they often scratch at the soil to search for seeds, insects and even animals as large as lizards, small snakes, or young mice.. (We know of one ancient Buff Orpington cross who still lays an … The chickens that are raised for eggs usually give 200 to 300 eggs per year. After the first 4 years or so their laying gets less and less. However, if raised in the exact same conditions as hens where no outside threats are present, a rooster has the capability (health-wise) to live just as long as a hen. Some of the reason why bantam chickens live longer could have to do with how they are raised, too. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. But there are variations within breeds that can make all the difference in the world. Choosing your Production Hen I have larger sized chickens such as orpingtons, australorps, and easter eggers who weigh 6-8 lbs. That said, there are a few constant factors that allow us to estimate the approximate life expectancy of a hen based on breed, size, and laying capacity. The chickens that are raised for eggs usually give 200 to 300 eggs per year. Most hens start laying at around 18 months old, but they don’t generally continue into old age. More wild behaviors were suppressed and while the creation of some hybrid chickens led to a decrease in longevity, other breeds saw an increase. A lot of heritage breeds are relatively hardy and long-lived; Rhode Island Reds can live for almost eight years. And on the commercial level, it’s closer to two years, and sometimes less. A final factor that can affect chicken longevity? These chickens tend to be quite aggressive and difficult to raise for people who are new to raising chickens. Keep in mind that every chicken is different, and there is nothing you can do to rush them to grow up – so just be patient and … Broiler hens can lay eggs. The avian influenza outbreak was one such example – this epidemic killed 90% of its victims in crowded commercial settings. If you recently decided to raise chickens, you might be wondering, “how long do chickens live?”. Egg-laying uses up many of a chicken’s precious resources, and often, birds who have reproductive layers live much shorter lives. The Jersey Giant is a heritage breed that was developed sometime in the late 19th century. Similarly, good veterinary care can make the difference between a chicken that lives for one year and one that lives for ten. Despite the best preventive measures, any hen might succumb to an illness, pick up a parasite, or be killed by a predator at any time. Because of this, it isn’t known to live much longer than a year or soi. This nutrition helps optimize a chicken’s growth so that it can thrive. That brings us to the question of how many years a healthy hen will be laying eggs. Chickens lay more eggs in the summer when days are long. Weakened feathers, small legs, and 2-3 years of life only to lay the eggs. Please seek advice from a certified veterinarian in a case of emergency. People often ask us: ‘How long do chickens live?’ This is a … Pure heritage breeds or infrequent layers will probably last the longest in terms of production at five to ten years. Their egg production will continue to gradually decline until they eventually stop laying eggs altogether. Another factor to consider in addition to genetics is the tenacity and intelligence of the breed. How long do chickens lay eggs? Chickens usually don't simply "stop" laying eggs when they get to a certain age, but they will lay fewer as they get older. Chickens live for between 5… CONTINUE READING. These birds were historically kept only for eggs and then later became kept for meat. A little more about me. Search online or reach out to the local chicken-keeping community to find people who might be looking for a few more hens, or at least willing to take a few more on. This can vary, with some chickens waiting until six months to start laying and others (usually hybrids) that start laying … Those are great traits to have! We're always looking to improve our articles to help you become an even better gardener. Lots of people use lights in the coop to simulate artificial daylight, which can provide a boost in laying. The oldest chicken on record was an OEGB hen who lived 15-16 years. These birds are some of the best at laying lots of eggs, but unfortunately, they won’t do so for very long. She has a flock of 11 chickens (including 3 Silkies) and is currently teaching people all around the world how to care for healthy chickens. They can live for ten to twelve years if they are raised in the proper conditions! The trouble is that backyard chicken owners often want something very different from their hens than industrial producers. When cared for properly, they can live eight years or more. On the high side, you could expect up to 200 eggs a year from a prolific laying bantam with all of the ideal laying conditions for a long period in a year. Many years ago, chickens used to live inside large barns with other types of livestock. Heritage chickens are the most healthy ones. How Long Do Bantam Chickens Lay Eggs? 12 Years. These birds still maintain frequent production, but they’ll last longer than the hybrids both as active egg layers and their overall life expectancy. Part of this is that when humans breed selectively for a specific trait such as high egg production or gorgeous feathers, they tend to also produce other traits as a side effect. Believe it or not, chickens didn’t always live as long as they do now. Sue's estimate always ... What Is the Average Life Expectancy of a Chicken? Other breeds lay less eggs per year but lay for more years - some for four or more years. Unfortunately, most people don’t get to experience the full life expectancy of a chicken because it never lives long enough to prove its abilities. Your hens may not be laying … They don’t live as long as heritage chickens. Overall, the key takeaway is that keeping chickens isn’t a great activity to undertake on a whim. If your chickens regularly come into contact with other birds, though, you’ll need to watch out for communicable diseases. It can live for eight years or more when raised in ideal conditions! As your birds age, egg size will even out, and egg count will gradually drop. While on average chickens live about 8 years, the question of “h ow long do chickens live” depends on a lot of factors, including breed, quality of life, and environment. “Five years of production” doesn’t mean five years of laying the same number of eggs as she did when the hen was only two years old. While you're here, why not follow us on Facebook and YouTube. Whether it’s the first egg at […] Your chickens will not only be protected from the most extreme conditions, but they’ll have secure protection from predators, too. Google Answers: Chickens. At a certain point, the best care and diet in the world won’t make up for this, and that chicken is more likely to live to four or five years old instead of eight or nine. However, some people speculate that it burns hens out more quickly and that they won’t be as productive for as many years as a result. How Much Does It Cost to Raise Chickens? To help reduce these problems and enable your chickens to live longer, fuller lives, try to worm and dust your chicken coop on a regular basis and feed a healthy, nutritious diet. What Should I Do With My Chicken After It Stops Laying Eggs Consistently? Plymouth Rocks are hybrid chickens that are known for being some of the longest-lived of all of their flock mates. Here are a few of the most common factors that affect how long chickens live: While most diseases that commonly afflict backyard flocks aren’t deadly, there are some that can be quite dangerous or even fatal. Author Lorin Nielsen Posted on September 15, 2020 Categories News Post navigation. Because of this, they live long lives. Here again, there can be differences among breeds and drastic variations between individual chickens. Daisy. If you are wanting something more specific, you … On the flip side, some breeds have been interbred so much that it dramatically reduces their lifespan. Most hens lay the most eggs in their first year of production and begin to drop off after that. You're probably asking how long do chickens live and lay eggs. Let's look at a brief overview of reasons to give you some ideas, and you can click on each possibility for more details and a more in-depth discussion. Egg laying will begin to slow down after this time frame and then taper off. That claimed, a lot of laying types will certainly lay more or less productively in yard terms for 5 or 7 years. On average, young female chickens start laying eggs or “come into lay” around 6 months of age. They were raised for eggs and occasionally, for meat, too. Plus, predators could often get inside and chickens could even freeze to death. In general, you can expect these heritage hens’ to lay consistently for 3-4 years with some slowing up towards the end of that time. I have 2 chickens that turned 3 years this May and how long do they live and lay eggs for? Just remember that some predators are incredibly tenacious and smart – even rats know how to chew through chicken wire, and they can pose a serious threat to small chickens. Some chickens may start laying eggs as early as 16 to 18 weeks old, while others may take upwards of 28 to 32 weeks (closer to 8 months old)! Most of these girls will live to around 7 years on average – if they are protected from predators and treated royally, they can last a lot longer! Everything You Should Know. Sep 8, 2011 #3 maralpz2006 Songster. Industrial producers want chickens who lay eggs as fast as possible in as short a period as they can manage. There’s also the little fact that most chickens people raise are intended to be food – and you can bet those poor souls don’t get to live 8 years (try 8 weeks). Some of these may be affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission if items are purchased. I've read that chicken lifespan egg laying of 13 years, but of course, so many die young of mishap or disease. The third factor with the biggest impact on chicken life span is egg production. This production carries on for several years. The Lifespan of a Chicken How long do chickens live? Within their first year of life, most laying hens will be at their peak production at about 30 weeks of age. However, when it comes to raising chickens for high production, the Golden Comet is one of the best breeds to lay eggs. Some breeds begin when they are older, however. The natural pattern is for hens to stop or slow their laying during the winter. Some people didn’t even maintain living quarters for their chickens at all but instead let them fend for themselves, further reducing their life expectancy. The most common cause of premature chicken death is predation. Keep in mind that while these traits are often breed-specific, they can also be specific to just one or two individuals in a flock, too – if you can, try to make sure you keep those chickens on as breeders. Unlike a DIY project you’ll never finish, chickens can’t be moved into the basement when you don’t want to deal with them anymore, and their life expectancy ensures you’re locked into a commitment of 10 years or more. When hens are productively laying eggs, they’ll lay one egg about every 22 hours. Is the average chicken may live for five or seven years traits will tend towards shorter lifespans same and... Are much smaller than average chickens, you can expect them to live long out in the proper conditions coops. 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