Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: princesspoultry on January 07, 2009, 20:12
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Just wondering....How long do chickens live? My oldest hen just died at the age of 4 which I thought was pretty young.....?
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Hi princesspoultry.
I think it depends whether it's a hybrid or pure and bantam have shorter lives I think.
Apparently pure breeds live longer but are less productive. The hybrids I think average about 4 or 5 so prob not a bad life.
Rob 8)
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I had heard about 5-8 years but have heard of hens living much longer.
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Met an ancient cock (cochin) the other day, he was 11years old and such a sweetie! :D
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OK,Thanks everyone!
Princess Poultry
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I've had particular favourites go into double figures.
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My friends sister has a hen she has kept for 14 years, it looks a bit like Iggy Pop with more feathers!
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I have a excheque leghorn cock , he will be nine years old this year, still looks fit and holds his own with the youngsters.
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wow some really old birds :shock: i dont really know how old mine are , but some are geting really yellow legs and i am sure i have read thats a sign of them getting ready to lay so i assume they are young.
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Now that we are on the subject of older birds.... Do hens eggs tend to get a little blooming as they get older? My hens eggs taste fine but are not the best looking compared to when they were younger. (Their ages are from 3 to 4) I know that in egg factories they butcher them at the age of 2.
Thanks,
Princess Poultry
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I've got a couple of 5 year olds and never had that problem PP :?
Sarah :)
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Now that we are on the subject of older birds.... Do hens eggs tend to get a little blooming as they get older? My hens eggs taste fine but are not the best looking compared to when they were younger. (Their ages are from 3 to 4) I know that in egg factories they butcher them at the age of 2.
Thanks,
Princess Poultry
Egg quality does deteriorate with age, so you get a higher incidence of blood spots, meat spots, thin shells, deformed shells, thin whites etc. They are still fine to eat, but it is one of the reasons why the commercial sellers cull hens after 18 months. :( Having said that I have a 4 year old who still lays perfect eggs! :lol: I usually crack eggs into a small bowl first, rather than straight into my cooking, just in case!