sandyhas3chucks Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I have a 3 year released ex bat, so approx 4 1/2.... My question is if any one has oldies... how inactive is normal and as non layers how little would an oldie eat? She has other health issues but always has, and until this week has eaten a bit more than she is now. I suspect this really is her wind down, she seems happy but just eats such a little.. and sleeps a lot, though so do the other older girls???? input appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mabelandflosmum Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Mabel was nearly 4 when she died of heart disease. In the last months she ate very little and spent most of her time snoozing but still had the energy to dig up worms occasionally. Her favourite activity was sleeping in the sun. I think you may be right, she may be getting frail, make the most of her! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 28, 2012 Author Share Posted February 28, 2012 thank you.. she is so so fussy over what she might eat one day and he next that it is hard getting her medication in her. but she is bright eyed just the same. Every morning for the last 2 years has been a bonus with these too. prior to them I had only just kept one for past her one year henniversary.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 We have a 4¹/² year old black rock. She is a little slower than the others but still manages to put on a good turn of speed when there's treats on offer! We suspect she is still laying the occasional egg because we have only 4 young uns but sometimes we get 5 eggs. She had stopped laying for at least a year but looks like she may have started again since we got the new girls. Her sisters passed on a couple of years back due to old age but she's still going strong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodcat Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 I have a speckledy who is coming up for 5 in around may. She is still bright eyed and bushy tailed but she does eat alot less than the other girls even treats and she is a real fuss pot. She won't eat loads of brands of food and she absolutly won't eat pellets. I give in because she is my old girl. She will come bounding up for treats but she isn't as interested as the other at all. She lays on and off though more off than on to be honest. It sounds like she is winding down but you may find that she will keep going for a lot longer. One of mine started to wind down like that in a september but managed to go on for another year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 I have 2 old pekins, one is 6.5 and the other is about 6, neither lay. The older one has slight mobility problems but I have my eye on her to make sure that she's not suffering, the other one is sprightly and fine. The next youngest will be 4.5 years old and is still laying - these are all pure breeds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chooks Aloud Posted March 1, 2012 Share Posted March 1, 2012 Darla is my original chook and is over 6 years old and is still laying. I posted on here the other day that I hope she would come back into lay and I went home and low and behold, there was an egg waiting. What a clever girl! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sage Posted March 1, 2012 Share Posted March 1, 2012 I have an ex batt, she will be free 2 years in May so she must be about 3 1/2 years, over the last few weeks she has started to spend a lot of time sleeping. She will have a peck at corn but she dosent seem to be bothered. As long as she eating and drinking I'm going to let her get on with it. She comb is red, her eyes are bright, she's just a lot slower than she used to be. Sage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted March 1, 2012 Author Share Posted March 1, 2012 Well Madam has had a change in habits today. I am sure the sun makes a difference also drinking.... I know this may sound both daft and obvious at the same time, but I am sure I have read that others have noticed how delicious dirty moving water is.... Well a couple of days of trickling water out of a tiny spout giving rise to miniu rivers near her has caused the "oooo yummy!!!" reaction This may be coincidental to the increase in interest in food. Still not eating much but seems that this is pretty normal thanks for all you in put.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted March 1, 2012 Share Posted March 1, 2012 I love to read about hens that have long lives. I have a cockerel and two hens in my flock all three are 8 years old.....One of the hens is still laying.....I was not expecting that this year....She laid three eggs last week and two so far this week....None of them are showing any signs of slowing down and still do all the things that chickens do....The older hen that is laying has always been a very good broody...We have chicks in the garden at the moment.....I can't help thinking that that has triggered the laying.....If she goes broody this year I will get some eggs to go under her again..Her own have not been fertile for a couple of years now......I think my cockerel is firing blanks. Well he is 8. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted March 1, 2012 Share Posted March 1, 2012 Wow Shirl, 8 years old! Your chooks must be living the life of riley to be doing so well I have two ex batts that are 2.5 years free, so about 4 years old. They are really bright, alert and healthy and still laying eggs! Sadly we lost their sister Rosie last weekend, we think heart failure as her comb had turned purple and then shrunk right back and she was generally very unwell (no other obvious signs of illness eg crop problems or peritonitis). But even so I was really pleased to have been able to give her 2.5 years of free-ranging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Brooding a lot certainly helps, as Shirl's chooks illustrate; the fewer eggs they lay, they longer they last. It puts a tremendous strain on their systems which is why pure breeds tend to be a bit healthier... that winter break and tendency to brood really helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Hmmm, I don't think I'm likely to find my ex batts brooding any time soon. But they did take a really good break over winter - in fact I thought that was going to be it and that they had reached retirement. Then, lo and behold some eggs suddenly started appearing a couple of weeks ago! Sadly I don't think they'll reach 8 years old though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 The life of Riley is a good way of putting it. I have just read your post to my OH. He just laughed and said "they live better than me that's for sure":wink: I have always thought it best to leave them be when they are broody DM......I am lucky that I can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
