[sussexchook]

just a quicky how long can hens live for i have a light sussex and she maulted last year and i was told thats a sign of an old hen can anyone help

[Mrs Bee]

As I understand and from my limited experience of keeping chickens they usually moult in their second year.

But I am sure someone with greater knowledge than I will be along soon with a more detailed answer.

I still have 2 of my original chooks and they are 3 years old now. The other 4 lasted about 3 years.
The 2 that have lasted the longest are black rocks.

[Casey76]

A pullet may have a partial moult going into their first winter.  Form then on a hen will normally moult at least one a year in late summer/ autumn (though they may also moult in the middle of winter!)

The severity of the moult is pretty random, from a partial moult, to a full on 'oven baked' type moult.

It is not a sign of old age