Dolly Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 My 3 year old hybrid Roxy is not quite herself at the moment, she's been to the vets who suspected a slightly doughy, sluggish crop and gave an injection to help speed her system up, she's also on antibiotics. However, reading about others' problems in the chicken clinic, I'd never given any thought to the fact that she may just be 'getting old' but how old is old for a hybrid? I'd always had in the back of my mind that 5 was the average age for a hybrid but perhaps that's not the case, what do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindafw Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 having looked on the internet..they could in theory live into their' 20s but realistically most succumb to disease at a MUCH younger age.. some say 10 is a VERY good age given their propensity for illness and disease and some 7. So I think your 5 may be a good average! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 I would say that 3 is starting to get a bit old for a hybrid. I would say most hybrids live from 3-5 years, average probably about 4. Pure breeds tend to be longer lived, and many make it to 9 or 10 years old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 Afraid I'd agree, 3 is a pretty good age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 Same here. Especially ginger hens, who have had it by then in my experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolly Posted September 25, 2011 Author Share Posted September 25, 2011 Thanks everyone, I thought you might say my 5 years guess was a bit optimistic, so perhaps I just need to prepare myself and remember she's not a 'spring chicken' any more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 My oldest 2 are 3 and in retirement, they are the only ones left of my orginal 6 we are preparing ourselves for some losses this winter, Penny the Coral Nick is looking very 'mature' these days.... It's sooo sad, but they've lived a life of luxury Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 My original Ginger girls April 2008 are now showing signs of old age and I would be surprised if there here in spring but they have had a good pampered life compare with Ex batts so although It is to be expected Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 My hybrids are all around 2 now. One of them has definitely slowed down. Strange to think that they will by dying off soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 I lost my and at a much younger age, the other two from my first group are still ok lay occasionally and Latte is still top chook. They will be four in a couple of months. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 I've had my Suffolk Noir, Treacle for over 4 years from POL so she is 4 1/2 now and still going strong. I think the Black Rock type hybrids tend to live longer. I agree with what others have said about "gingers". I haven't had one live to be older than 3. I'm guessing they are "programmed" to live shorter but more productive (eggs, that is) lives. Pure breeds do tend to live longer as they don't lay as prolifically. That said, I lost one of my Araucanas earlier this year and she was only 3. Enjoy what time you have with your girl. If she's had a good life what more could a hen want? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 For hybrids, I'd say 3 for a gingernut, 4 for a pepperpot- am not sure about other hybrids. unless of course the dreaded peritonitis gets in there first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavysqueak Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 Isn't it strange that there is always one who comes along with a different tale from the 'norm'? And today its me .... I originally got three girls from Omlet in Jan 2009 - 1 died very young from pro lapses, the other died about 6 months ago from egg peritonitis and our is now three (ish) and is still going strong. So our 'ginger' girl is our star! She might have stopped laying - she stopped over a long moult about 2 months ago and hasn't restarted - and she's full of that mycoplasma bacterial thing (is that the name?) which pops up every time she feels down, but otherwise she's full of life and ready to give her all. I am however aware that she's not put enough weight back on after the moult, so we are looking out for any old age issues. Anyway - I think they are like anything else. I've had guinea pigs who've died young and some who must've been close to 7 years old. So just look after them and love them for as long as you can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mart2584 Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 my two gingers died at 4 and 4 1/2 so they did well by the sounds of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandychick Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 My ginger is nearly 4 and after a moult is laying every day again. She looks very young and bouncy for her age - might try a diet of pellets and mealworms myself some just live longer than others I think. I've also had a sussex and an amber which died at only 2 years old Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow_Warren Posted September 27, 2011 Share Posted September 27, 2011 I got my 3 hybrids 3 years ago not. They are a speckled lady, a bluebelle and a black star. The black star has been a bit up and down this year(nothing specific just slow and lathargic), she laid well earlier in the year but nothing for quite a while now. She is on an "up" at the moment having just moulted and growing some nice feathers back. The other 2 seem very well indeed, giving me an egg every day of so. All three are certainly showing my two new girls what being chickens is all about. I've read the same of 3-5 years being average for hybrids, so I take every day as a bonus now... Hannah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted September 27, 2011 Share Posted September 27, 2011 All 3 of my original Omlet girls that I got in May 08 are now dead The pepperpot went first and the last gingernut went about a month ago. The vet seemed to think that they'd got to a good age, they were roughly 3 1/2. There was a definite slowing down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poached Posted September 27, 2011 Share Posted September 27, 2011 Hi I had my original ginger hen earlier this year and she was 7 and I still have my original amber lee who is 7 who i got in 2004 and not showing any ageing at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted September 28, 2011 Share Posted September 28, 2011 I'm so glad that it might be possible for my chooks to live to be 7 or even 10 I won't be telling OH though as he thinks they will be gone in a couple of years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henergy Posted September 28, 2011 Share Posted September 28, 2011 I'm so glad that it might be possible for my chooks to live to be 7 or even 10 I won't be telling OH though as he thinks they will be gone in a couple of years Me too - I told him they lived for 3 years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted September 28, 2011 Share Posted September 28, 2011 What are the signs of old age in a hen, other than not laying anymore? I don't mean to be daft, but presumably they don't get grey feathers or anything like that do they ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 They just seem to slow down a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
