Being prey animals, chickens naturally have a shorter lifespan, but that’s not to say that they can’t live to a nice old age! A lot of factors figure into how old a chicken will live to be, including genetics, hereditary diseases, breeding, environmental conditions, predator risks, diet, and daily care. Despite all these factors and risks, you can help your flock live a healthy and productive life through proper care and nourishment!.
How Old Can A Chicken Live? A Deep Dive Into The Average Lifespan Of Chickens
One of the most common questions I get as a chicken owner is, “How old can a chicken live?” Well, let me tell you—a chicken’s life span depends on many things, such as its breed, environment, diet, and more. This article is meant to give you a complete picture of all the factors that affect the average chicken’s lifespan so that you can improve their health and length of life.
The Basics Average Chicken Lifespan
On average, most backyard chickens live between 5 to 8 years. However, with proper care and management, it’s not uncommon for some breeds to live over 10 years. Here’s a quick overview of average lifespans of different chicken types:
- Hybrid egg-laying breeds like ISA Browns – 2 to 3 years
- Dual purpose breeds like Plymouth Rocks – 6 to 8 years
- Heritage breeds like Rhode Island Reds – 8 to 10 years
- Landrace/heirloom breeds like Swedish Flower Hens – Over 10 years
Egg-Laying Lifespan
Along with the total lifespan, the years when the bird lays eggs are also very important. Between 16 and 24 weeks old, most hens start laying eggs. Once they start laying eggs, they usually keep doing it for 3 to 5 years.
The first two years are the best for egg production. Hens lay about six eggs a week, or 300 eggs a year. The amount slowly goes down each year as the hen gets older. If you take good care of some breeds, like Plymouth Rocks, they can lay eggs straight for 8 to 10 years.
Factors That Impact Chicken Lifespan
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s dive deeper into all the elements that affect a chicken’s potential lifespan:
Breed
Most of the time, heritage breeds that are bred for traits like toughness, adaptability, and longevity live the longest. Landrace breeds like Swedish Flower Hens are especially robust. On the other hand, commercial hybrids that were bred mostly for egg production only live for two to three years.
Genetics
Chickens from high-quality, undiluted genetic stock are naturally healthier and more disease resistant. Strong genetics enhances immunity and reduces risk of issues like heart attacks. Large farms often neglect this while backyard chicken owners select birds carefully.
Diet
Nutrition has a huge impact on chicken health and longevity. A balanced diet helps build a robust immune system to fight disease. Nutritional deficiencies can weaken chickens and shorten their lifespan. Proper feeds for each life stage are key.
Housing
Chickens housed outdoors and allowed to forage have enhanced longevity as they get sunshine, fresh air, and exercise. A confined, crowded environment increases risk of illness and early death. Good coop hygiene and space/bird also helps.
Health Care
Easy access to veterinary care helps address health issues early. Learning to treat common diseases yourself also boosts longevity. First-aid supplies and medications allow prompt treatment.
Disease and Predators
Sickness and predators are obvious hazards chickens face. Good sanitation and vaccination help prevent disease. Secure housing, runs and supervision thwart predators. Quick treatment of illnesses also improves lifespan.
Understanding Chicken Life Stages
To optimize chicken care, it’s essential to understand the various life stages and milestones:
Baby Chicks
Newly hatched chicks grow rapidly, transitioning from soft down to feathers in 4-6 weeks. Providing starter feed with minimum 20% protein supports development. Warmth, clean housing and 24/7 access to water prevents mortality.
Pullets
The teenage phase from 5-15 weeks sees physical changes as breed traits emerge. Increased curiosity and activity levels are seen. Transition their diet slowly to a 16% protein grower feed.
Adults
Maturity sets in around 18-24 weeks as egg laying initiates. Provide at least 16% protein layer feed with calcium for shell strength. Comb/wattle growth and onset of yearly molting also occur.
Seniors
As chickens age, pay close attention to health. Adjust housing and care routines for comfort. Increase protein to support feather regrowth during molting. Supplements may become necessary to maintain health and egg production.
Optimizing Chicken Health and Longevity
Follow these tips to help your chickens live long, productive lives:
- Select breeds with longevity and buy the best quality birds possible
- Provide species-appropriate housing with space to roost, dust bathe and forage
- Feed balanced, age-appropriate diets with sufficient protein for each life stage
- Control pests/predators and vaccinate against common diseases like Marek’s
- Schedule annual vet checkups and trim nails/beaks if needed
- Adjust care and housing as chickens age to support health and comfort
- Isolate and promptly treat any sick birds
- Reduce stress and boredom with enrichment
The Bottom Line
With proper selection, housing, nutrition and health care, backyard chickens can thrive for up to 10 years and beyond. Giving your flock the best start right from day one sets the foundation for a long, healthy and productive life. Pay close attention to their needs at each stage and make adjustments as needed. Your chickens will reward you with endless eggs, entertainment and companionship for years to come!
What Chicken Breeds Live the Longest?
The average lifespan of a chicken will depend on its breed. There are four common categories that a chicken breed can fall into that may dictate the average lifespan of the breed.
Hybrid chicken breeds have the shortest lifespan of about 3-5 years. Hybrid chickens are often fast growing, mature early, and are bred for high production rates. The toll of fast growth and high production demands a lot from a hen’s body, which shortens her natural lifespan. Cancer, organ failure, and heart attacks are also more likely to happen in production chicken breeds because their genes aren’t as good and they put under a lot of stress. Because hybrid chickens raised for eggs are usually replaced after two years, having a long life span is not important to the commercial egg industry. The same is true for hybrid chickens raised for meat, since they are bred to grow up quickly and be killed before they are even a year old. Some examples of hybrid chicken breeds include Isa Brown chickens and Cornish Rocks.
Dual-purpose chicken breeds have a longer lifespan than hybrid chicken breeds. Dual-purpose chicken breeds can be heritage breeds or hybrid breeds. A dual-purpose chicken is bred for both egg production and meat production. The average lifespan of a dual-purpose chicken is around 6-8 years. Chickens of dual-purpose breeds grow at a more normal rate and mature slower than production hybrid breeds. Production intensity is also not as high once the birds do reach maturity. Some dual-purpose hybrid chicken breeds include Black Stars, Austra Whites, and Sapphire Gems.
Heritage chicken breeds have a longer lifespan than either dual-purpose or hybrid chicken breeds. Chickens of heritage breeds have an average lifespan of around 8-10 years. They have a slow growth rate with allows them to fully mature before they start producing eggs. For many heritage chicken breeders, preserving the genetics of the breed is very important. Purer genetics makes for healthier birds who are hardier and more disease resistant. Heritage chicken breeds that have been accepted into the American Poultry Association or the American Bantam Association must meet specific breed standards. For a chicken breed to be considered heritage, it must naturally have a long lifespan. Some examples of heritage chicken breeds include Australorps, Brahmas, Cochins, Buckeyes, Rhode Island Reds, and Plymouth Rocks.
Lastly, landrace chicken breeds are known to have the longest natural lifespans. Landrace chicken breeds can have a lifespan of over 10 years. What makes landrace chicken breeds so special is the fact that the breed develops without any human intervention. They are often highly adapted to the environment in which they live and harbor pure genetics. Thanks to their undiluted gene pool, landrace chickens often have strong immune systems which makes them naturally intolerant to many poultry diseases and ailments. Some examples of landrace chicken breeds include Icelandic chickens, Hedemoras, Swedish Black Hens, and Swedish Flower Hens.
How Long do Chickens Live?
The average lifespan of a chicken is about 5-10 years. That’s a pretty wide average, but you must take into consideration the many different breeds of chickens. A chicken’s breed does play a part in its average lifespan. Here are the average life spans of some common chicken breeds:
- Isa Browns: 2-3 years
- Rhode Island Red: 5-8 years
- Plymouth Rock: 8-10 years
- Silkie: 7-9 years
- Orpington: 8-10 years
- Leghorn: 4-6 years
- Wyandotte: 6-12 years
- Australorp: 6-10 years
- Cochin: 8-10 years
- Easter Eggers: 8-10 years
Even amongst chickens of a certain breed, some strains or varieties (colors) of the breed may be known to have a longer life expectancy than average. In general, chicken breeds bred for egg or meat production will have the shortest lifespans and heritage or landrace chicken breeds will have the longest lifespans.
Lifespan and productive lifespan are also two different things. A chicken can have a long lifespan but a short productive lifespan. Productive lifespan is the amount of time a chicken will be at peak egg production. Most chicken breeds have a productive lifespan of around 2-3 years. Dual-purpose and heritage chicken breeds often have a longer productive lifespan, but they don’t lay as intensely during their productive lifespan compared to production breeds.
How Long Do Chickens Live?
FAQ
What is the lifespan of a backyard chicken?
A chicken’s life span can be very different depending on many factors, but in general, a well-kept backyard chicken can live between 6 and 8 years. Some heritage breeds may live longer, extending lifespans to 10 years or more under optimal conditions.
How long do chickens lay eggs and live?
Lifespan of a hen Hens may live in backyard flocks for 6-8 years, and most flocks will produce eggs for 3-4 years. The level of egg production, egg size, and shell quality decrease each year. Most commercial layers are kept for 2-3 years as their egg production decreases after this time.
What is the oldest age for a chicken?
The wild form of our domestic chicken can live around ten years on average. It is assumed that a domestic chicken can live up to 15 years if it is well kept. The oldest chicken in the world was 22 years old according to some news reports.