Oldest chicken!

[soloequestrian]

My old hen turned up her toes yesterday. She was 8 and I was pretty chuffed with getting her to that age (most of the others have gone around 4 years old). Looked online and the worlds oldest hen is 21. 21!!!! How does that work? Mine had a relatively easy life - free range, hatched a few batches of chicks so didn't spend her whole life as an egg factory - and she was still pretty decrepit by the end. How can they possibly go for nearly three times her lifespan? Is it a con, like my friend who had a rabbit called Fluffy for about 25 years.... except it wasn't the same rabbit, they just kept replacing with rabbits that looked the same and calling them the same name (never really understood, but it's a true story).
So how old have your oldest hens been and do you believe the age of the 'world's oldest'?

 

[Bradsmum]

My oldest, Cheeky Beaky, was 9 and still laying 2-3 eggs a week when she suddenly died. She moved with us from Surrey to Ceredigion and I was driving the horse box down laden with stable equipment and other equipment when I got a flat tyre. Called the recovery people who asked if I had any livestock on board - one chicken didn’t really count . I can’t see how a chicken can live to 21.

 

[soloequestrian]

Still laying at 9 is pretty impressive! Mine has just been a pet for about two years now.

 

[Esmae]

I managed to get Shirley Silkie to 11. She was pretty well and didn't wake up one morning. Most of the time they seem to go until about 5/6. I have managed to get a Chinese goose to 31 before pts due to arthritis. I had both from an egg so the age was right. If it's correct then 21 for a hen is amazing, but personally I would doubt it.

 

[Landcruiser]

My old bantam went on until she was about 15. She was amazing, never properly tame. She escaped when she was young and was gone for about a week - then found nested in the top of a thick hedge. She was a great broody, and reared some lovely chicks. By age 15 she'd eat out of my hand, just about. I was sad to lose her last year.

 

[Archangel]

My oldest was 12 when she died. She was an ex intensive hen so had a tough first 18 months.
Such was such a lovely girl - always looked after all the new girls when they arrived featherless and shell shocked.
I suppose 21 is possible.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

What do all of you worm chickens with? Suspect mine have worms and not sure what to do.

 

[I'm Dun]

What do all of you worm chickens with? Suspect mine have worms and not sure what to do.

You can buy a sack of food with the wormer already in it and instructions on what to do on the bag. I always found it the easiest way to do it.

 

[Clodagh]

If you buy say marriages with the flubenvet added (much the easiest way, other brands do it too now I think), the retailer should ask how many chickens you have and sell you the right amount. They need to stay in so they only eat the pellets (mine are always outraged!).

 

[HollyWoozle]

I can believe it to be honest. Ours have never reached a very old age but it’s a family flock and my mum is in control of what they eat I will say that the accidental homebred hens have lived a lot longer than most, I believe because they inherit some immunity to suit their location. I’ve heard of quite a few hens living into their teens so whilst 21 does sound a bit wild I don’t think it’s implausible.

Ours are wormed with flubenvet pellets but you can also do a worm count as with horses before deciding if they need it. Flubendazole is the only U.K. wormer licensed for poultry use and you either buy the pellets with it already in or you buy a powder and add to feed yourself.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

On further investigation I have realised my poor chicken is blind. No wonder she isn't interested in anything. Googling suggests Marek's disease which I hadn't heard of before.

 

[HollyWoozle]

Many in this country are vaccinated against Marek’s I think? Nearly every ill chicken I’ve dealt with has gone blind in the end or rather has had issues with depth perception to some extent. Does she have any other symptoms @Errin Paddywack? Is she eating at all?

 

[Errin Paddywack]

On further investigation I don't think it is Marek's. She was still pecking at food at the weekend but has now stopped eating completely, just sitting around in corners. A little bit dirty as is the other hen too. I wonder if it is a deficiency of some sort. I lost another one a few months ago, she was laying eggs without shells then died quite suddenly and without warning. The other two were still laying ok, however no eggs now for several weeks. They have layers pellets and corn plus a few mealworms as a treat.
I can't see anything obviously wrong with her eyes, she just doesn't react to any movement near them.

 

[Clodagh]

My oldest hen, a Millefleur Dutch, has gone broody tonight. She’s about 9 years old and my last Millie Dutch. This time last year I had 8 but I had an awful fox attack in broad daylight and only have her left. Luckily I did have a few eggs laid by her great niece (or similar) who was running with a gold Dutch boy for an outcross so did get a half bred Millie boy. (Hope you are following!). So the boy has been running with her and two Pyle Dutch hens I got to keep him happy.
She has laid 8 eggs, which I have carefully stored, so now to wait and see if they are fertile.
I’m so excited! They are impossible to source in this colour.

 

[silv]

I have a 6 year old orpington, she would be the oldest, my friends lived to be about 12. The chickens from commercial farms have a very short lifespan ie 4 years pretty much max as they are bred to be laying machines and their bodies just wear out sadly.

 

[Clodagh]

I have a 6 year old orpington, she would be the oldest, my friends lived to be about 12. The chickens from commercial farms have a very short lifespan ie 4 years pretty much max as they are bred to be laying machines and their bodies just wear out sadly.

We had Mrs Brown, an ISA but we got her at POL and she lived until 10. She was an amazing hen, raised a brood of chicks every year and taught the hound puppies all about being steady to poultry.

 

[poiuytrewq]

We had so many hens over the years but had a white one called Mertyl who out lived every new batch we ever had. She moved house with us and laid constantly. She was also very friendly and people orientated which was nice.
She must have been 8/10 years.