Have you ever heard of chicken math? It’s a joke amongst chicken owners and homesteaders that you can’t just have “one [or insert any other number here]” because they start off so cute and small that you don’t realize how fast they grow and how much space they end up needing. Not only that, but oftentimes you can’t help but want to add more to your flock. They’re very special, smart creatures and laying hens can easily be viewed as pets so of course you’re wondering how long do chickens live. It’s important to understand how long Hen Solo and Princess Lay-a are going to be around for and if there’s anything you can do to prolong their life expectancy.
How Long Do Chickens Live on Average
On average, chickens can live for 5 to 10 years, but this depends on the breed, environment, and quality of care. Some breeds, such as Bantam chickens, can live up to 15 years, while others may only live for 3 to 4 years.
How Long Do Chickens Live in the Wild
Interestingly enough, chickens are not native to the wild. They are domesticated animals that have been selectively bred for thousands of years. However, there are feral populations of chickens that exist in some areas of the world, such as Hawaii and parts of Southeast Asia.
Feral chickens have a shorter lifespan than those that are domesticated because they face many challenges such as predation, disease, and lack of access to food and water. The lifespan of feral chickens varies widely depending on the specific environment and conditions they live in. In some cases, feral chickens may only live for a few months, while in other cases, they may live for several years.
How Long Do Domesticated Chickens Live
With proper care, domesticated chickens can live a long and healthy life – one has even been recorded to live up to 16 years (though that is the rare exception)! Like any other living creature, there are many factors that can affect their lifespan.
These include:
- Genetics
- Nutrition
- Housing conditions
- Access to veterinary care
Regular check-ups and preventative measures such as vaccination can help keep chickens healthy and extend their lifespan. Also making sure that they are in an environment that does not inhibit illnesses or make them susceptible to predator attacks. While there are many internal factors to consider, there are just as many external factors as well.
How Long Do Commercially Raised Chickens Live
Most commercially raised chickens are raised for meat or egg production, and are typically slaughtered at a much younger age, usually between 6 to 8 weeks for broiler chickens and 18 to 24 months for egg-laying hens.
Heritage Chickens vs Hybrid Chickens
As soon as you start playing around with chicken husbandry and cross-breeding for traits to create a hybrid chicken, the life expectancy plummets. This is not necessarily a problem for those who are doing it because it’s generally those who are commercially raising chickens and don’t need a long life expectancy for their birds.
Heritage chickens are defined by the American Poultry Association as meeting the following:
- Mate naturally
- Slow growth rate
- Have a longer, more productive outdoor life
- Come from pure stock
- Must meet the APA standard for the breed
The average life expectancy for a heritage chicken is 8 years with a 2-3 year laying period.
Hybrid chickens on average live up to 24 months with a 12 month laying period. Hybrid meat birds on average live up to 5 weeks.
Chicken Breeds with the Highest Life Expectancy
- Bantam chickens: These small chickens are known for their longevity and can live up to 15 years or more.
- Rhode Island Reds: This breed is known for its hardiness and can live up to 8 years or more.
- Sussex chickens: Sussex chickens are known for their friendly personalities and can live up to 8 years or more.
- Leghorn chickens: Leghorn chickens are excellent egg layers and can live up to 7 years or more.
- Plymouth Rock chickens: These chickens are known for their good temperament and can live up to 7 years or more.
Chicken with the World Record for Longest Lifespan
The oldest known chicken was named Muffy and lived to be 22 years old, dying in 2011. Muffy was well-cared for as a pet by its owner and did not lay many eggs. It’s been a common record that the chickens with the longest lifespans don’t lay many eggs. Currently, Peanut, a bantam from Michigan is holding the World Record at 20 years.
We’ve only had our oldest chickens for two years. How old are your chickens?
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