Mr Rhode Island Red Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 Hi All. Although it sounds a bit morbid, I am trying to find out a bit more about the life expectancy of hens. The oldest hen I have is Sadie, a Rhode Island Hybrid. Got her as a day old chick in December of 2006. So at her last birthday, December 2012, she was 6 years old. She is really a trophy of how long I have been keeping hens for. As I mentioned, back in 2006, she was got, along with 6 other day-old chicks. In a very unfortunate series of events, over a time of 15 months, 6 of these hens became egg-bound and died. She was the only one left and I had considered giving her away and stopping keeping hens. But I replenished the flock and they have been going steady ever since. Sadie, at 6, still as hard as nails Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 My oldest hen is also called Sadie! She's a Speckledy, and I rehomed her from someone who was emigrating to Australia in the summer of 2008 - she was already about a year old, as far as I recall, so she must be coming up for six. None of my others has lived much longer than 3 years though, and in my own experience and reading about others on this forum, that is an average age for a hybrid. Sadie is no longer laying, but still looks fit and happy - I would be surprised if she's still here by the end of this year though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 I have Ethel a light sussex hybrid she is nearly 7 still lays an egg not that often she has seen lots of other birds come and go but she is still going leanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 Rosie Red, a Wyandotte I had when I was 4, she was nearly 10 when she died, sweet little bird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majuka Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 My eldest ex-battery hen was Roberta, who made it to 3 years and 10 months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 Pure breds def live longer. Oldest hen I've had so far is 7 and she was a light Sussex. The oldest hybrid I have is Dolly an amber link, she will be 5 in the spring! She is my cuddle baby and I will be truly gutted when she goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 My oldest at the moment is an ex batt who is 3 years 8 months not sure about others I have owned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charly1979 Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 My mum still has a chicken that she got at POL before I got married, I got married in October 2001 ! and last year she was still laying ! Think she is a black rock but not 100% sure . If I have done my maths right she is 11, and will be 12 at some point this year . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 Pure breds def live longer. Oldest hen I've had so far is 7 and she was a light Sussex. The oldest hybrid I have is Dolly an amber link, she will be 5 in the spring! She is my cuddle baby and I will be truly gutted when she goes. That is interesting Mostin, I have only had hybrids until last year when I hatched my bantam babies. Of my hybrids Latte is the oldest at just over 5, she was one of my four originals, two from Omlet and two bought locally. She is a Sweetie which I think is an Amber Link by another name. She is my second most friendly chicken, Henny Penny who was my Gingernut from Omlet was my friendliest so far Latte laid lots of eggs in the autumn but is now having a rest and a small moult. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LottyJ1 Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 My ex-batts have only lived to be three so far. I now have two posh birds also so I hope they live longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 My oldest is coming up 5, was still laying last summer, but can't believe she will start again this year... Still seems very healthy and happy though, and as one of my originals will be gutted when she does go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barkisland Posted February 2, 2013 Share Posted February 2, 2013 Interesting thread. My 4 pure breeds are just about 5 years old, only one (Barnevelder) is still laying. My Light Sussex has dementia, poor old soul. She was always a very broody hen, became profoundly depressed, and eventually stopped laying. Now I have to get her out to eat and drink, as she seems to have forgotten how to do it. She also has to live alone behind a net, because the others beat her up and she doesn't defend herself. The Cream Legbar only laid for 8 months, packed up for the winter in 2009 and never bothered again! My ex batts have mostly lasted to 3 or 4. I lost another yesterday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 My oldest is Buxom Bella who is an ex batt I've had for 3 1/2 years, so she must be around 5. She doesn't lay any more but she still bustles around keeping the young'uns in check! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted February 5, 2013 Share Posted February 5, 2013 Treacle, my Suffolk Noir, was purchased in September 2007 and she was already laying when I got her, so I anticipate she is coming up for 6 shortly. She came back into lay again last week bless her. Never had a day's ill health in her life. Tough as old boots! My oldest ex-batt is Parsley, who I will have had 3 years free in April. I thought I was going to lose her last month as she developed an impacted crop and was bringing up horrible brown liquid, but a course of Baytril and Metacam and some massage have put her right and she's now back on top form, bless her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi-Hi Posted February 5, 2013 Share Posted February 5, 2013 My sis in law few doors down from me has a Maran called Miranda, and we worked it out the other day that she is coming up for 10 years now!! She got her when my daughter was 10 months old (we remember it quite clearly), and when she got her she was already a year old Obviously not laying anymore, but go Miranda She is massive, quite slow in a stately way, and don't take no nonsense from the young ones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 6, 2013 Share Posted February 6, 2013 I had to despatch a 7 year old pure breed earlier in the winter. I still have a pekin hen that's around the same age and although she hasn't laid for ages (probably why she's lasted so long) she is still going strong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted February 6, 2013 Share Posted February 6, 2013 My original two I have left will be 6 in August. Blackrocks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickensaregreat Posted February 6, 2013 Share Posted February 6, 2013 My oldest hen must be about nine now! I bought her the day before my cousin was born on valentines day which is why i always remember! Just realised that means I have been keeping chickens for nine years next week!! Where on earth has that time gone!! Anyway back to Henrietta! She has survived the fox twice and a dog and doesn't look as though she is going anywhere soon!! aah well back to uni work, here's to another nine years of poultry keeping and showing!! CAG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 My oldest is Buxom Bella who is an ex batt I've had for 3 1/2 years, so she must be around 5. She doesn't lay any more but she still bustles around keeping the young'uns in check! Well, you could blow me down - I take it all back, Bella laid an egg yesterday!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 Well done Bella! Have you had them on Life-Guard L_B? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 Well done Bella Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 Chuckles is one of my original Omlet pair delivered here over 8 years ago! Amazing for a hybrid, most of mine have lived 2-5 years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 Well done Bella! Have you had them on Life-Guard L_B? Yep, it's fab stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faye&Ant Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 My four girls will be 6 this year. I am trying to get prepared that this could be their last summer but after reading this I hope they do go on until 10 years!! They are such a huge part of my life.... Hoping for some lovely spring weather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
