tallulah Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 (edited) hi all, We found one of our six chickens dead yesterday evening......no sign of injury and there has been no recent sign of ill-health, she was running around the previous evening as keen as the others when it was treat time. It literally looked as if she had just keeled over on the spot. The other chickens hadn't touched her, and they didn't seem bothered by her either; she was stiff so she had been there a while, poor mite. We estimate Princess (Rosie's chook) was about 3 years old, she was a GoldLine. Does anyone know the approx expected life-span for this breed? We have three other GoldLInes(Tallulah, Bodica & Angel) who all arrived at the same time as Princess, and if it is possibly an age-thing then at least we could prepare our two daughters as they were both devastated last night. We also have a Bluebell (Guinevere) and a Light Sussex (Cleopatra) who are both approx 2 years old. If anyone could give us some guidelines as to expected age for these breeds as well, it would help. We don't think we are doing anything wrong....... Would you recommend a PM at this stage? Its the first time we've had a chicken die and with no obvious signs as to why we are at a loss as to what to do. thank you all Edited January 26, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 I think about 3 years for a hybrid is a reasonable length of life. Pure breeds tend to live a couple of years longer but it does differ slightly between breeds. I'd have that conversation with your girls to prepare them as I don't think you can ever really tell. Chickens hide illness so well. Personally I wouldn't do a PM. Sorry for your loss - I've not lost one yet but I would think losing your first hen is especially hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egghead68 Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 I'm sorry about your hen. At least she went quickly with a good quality of life right up to the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tallulah Posted January 26, 2011 Author Share Posted January 26, 2011 Thank you so much for replying, I feel (a little) happier that it was probably natural causes, rather than anything else, given how *normal* she has seemed. 3 years isn't long, is it? Hubby thought it was about 15 years, I had 5 in my mind. Didn't think that we would have to face this so soon, just assumed that she would be with us for a good while yet. Will speak to Eleanor and Rosie (daughters) about it, but its a heartbreaking thought to think that we might lose another 3 in the near future. Its not something you think about when you get them all together; we loved the joy at their arrival, but now we will have to face the possibility of their passing-on in close proximity I think we will forgo the PM; Rosie wants to bury her so best we do that soon. She may feel happier, too, knowing that they only live for approx 3 years, rather than it being a one-off. I should have found out about it sooner. RIP Princess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salop Chuck Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Sorry to hear of your recent loss - it is always upsetting when they go, especially the first one. Your goldline was doing well to live to 3yrs. These hybrid hens are genetically manipulated to produce the maximum number of eggs in the shortest length of time and I am afraid they just get worn out and fall off the perch. My original hybrids survived for between 18 months and 2.5 yrs - all succomming to egg laying probems including tumours and were all PTS before they suffered too much (I think I was a bit unlucky there). My new hens are all pure bred and enjoy an egg-laying break during the winter so don't get worn out so quickly. It just means I have to buy in free-range eggs during that time. Some people get round this my have a mixture of hybrid and pure-breds. You could tell your girls that Princess has gone to the 'Great Dust Bowl in the Sky' and is waiting there for her other friends to join herwhenever they are ready. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tallulah Posted January 26, 2011 Author Share Posted January 26, 2011 We were so happy to get our hens we hadn't even thought about the hybrid thing being an issue on length of life. Thankfully Cleopatra and Guinevere are pure breeds (at least, I think Bluebells and Light Sussex are!) so we have learnt a lesson and will definately go for pure breeds when the time comes to introduce 4 new ones (we will wait till all the Gold Lines pass). It does sound, then, like we have been very lucky with our girls so far, bless them. We'd expected them just to stop laying but to continue to lead a long, happy, egg-producing-free life......how naive we are. It seems, reading your experience, that we have been extremely lucky too, that she didn't suffer and that it was very quick. I can only hope that the others pass in a similar fashion when their time comes. Thank you all for sharing, its put my mind at rest on certain things, now just the heart issues to deal with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salop Chuck Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 I was very naive as well at the beginning - my first 3 omlet pullets came with the Eglucube and they are great for outright beginners in hen-keeping because they are so friendly and apparently tough - just getting on with the business of laying all these wonderful eggs for us. I learnt at lot in those early days but became very attached to them because of their friendly nature and was heartbroken at losing them so early. It is a steep learning curve for all of us and if I had hybrids again I would go for those hens that only laid around 250 or less eggs a year (instead of the 330 of the Gingernuts and Goldlines). When I have gained a lot more experience I might even take on some rescue hens - who knows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madchickenlady Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Sorry to hear that you lost your girl There really are no guarantees. I have pekins who are supposed to have a life expectancy of around 9 years (you pay for this by getting only around 80 eggs a year. If you're lucky ), but I still lost three at around a year/18 months from various complaints. My oldest girls are now approaching 3, and I hope they're with me for a good while yet , but I know from sad experience that they can go from healthy to death's door in hours Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneyolktoanother Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 sorry for your loss, it is always terrible, i have'nt lost a hen yet touchwood but have lost parrots over the years and it wa heartbreaking thinking of you all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 Sorry to hear about the loss of Princess . I lost 2 of my original girls a few months ago - they were just over 3 yrs old. My other girl the same age is still going strong so I suppose it's just down to the individual chicken how long they live . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
