The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: mintytwoshoes on February 14, 2020, 01:22:24 pm

Title: Life of a Chicken!!
Post by: mintytwoshoes on February 14, 2020, 01:22:24 pm
Hello everyoneI have some very loved old chickens and was wondering what other chicken keepers have experienced with the length of life of free ranging chickens.My oldest must be at least nine years old and was going strong yesterday.
Interested to know what others have experienced.Kind regardsMinty
Title: Re: Life of a Chicken!!
Post by: doganjo on February 14, 2020, 02:02:32 pm
Oldest I've had was 8, have had a few of those - mostly rescues
Title: Re: Life of a Chicken!!
Post by: Rupert the bear on February 14, 2020, 08:48:05 pm
same here a couple of 8yo birds, still going strong they have earned  their keep so I'm' happy to keep them on
Title: Re: Life of a Chicken!!
Post by: chrismahon on February 15, 2020, 07:20:13 am
We have three 10 year old Wyandottes left from 12 we brought over at 2 ½ years old. Last year they laid half a dozen each, so don't expect much this year.
Title: Re: Life of a Chicken!!
Post by: Kittencotes on April 06, 2020, 05:38:59 pm
Well at 1 human year old they are 19 chicken years old and at two years 27, three years 33 and four years 40. From then on each human year ages them by 10 chicken years. So anything beyond 7 years could be classed as "a good innings" ( not to mention good flock management) especially if they are still reproductive.

My oldest reached 10 human years.
Title: Re: Life of a Chicken!!
Post by: doganjo on April 07, 2020, 10:17:43 am
Well at 1 human year old they are 19 chicken years old and at two years 27, three years 33 and four years 40. From then on each human year ages them by 10 chicken years. So anything beyond 7 years could be classed as "a good innings" ( not to mention good flock management) especially if they are still reproductive.

My oldest reached 10 human years.
Gosh I didn't know that, thank you.  I knew about cats and dogs but didn't know there was a way of calculating hens' ages.  I wonder if that applies to all birds - or does it vary by species?
Title: Re: Life of a Chicken!!
Post by: Kittencotes on April 07, 2020, 11:07:26 am
Yes it differs.

   the main factors are the amount of time it takes the bird to reach sexual maturity, the average lifespan and reproductive peaks and duration.

  take a look at this for specific birds.  https://thepetsupplyguy.com/bird-age-calculator/


Title: Re: Life of a Chicken!!
Post by: doganjo on April 07, 2020, 02:49:19 pm
Ha ha, just threw it on a wobbly with quail