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!.
Raising backyard chickens is becoming increasingly popular among urban and rural homeowners. Fresh eggs are just one of the many benefits of keeping chickens. These birds also make great pets and help control pests. However, one thing any new chicken owner will wonder is how long chickens live on average.
The average lifespan of a chicken depends on several factors:
Breed
Different chicken breeds have varying average lifespans. On the low end are commercial breeds like Cornish Crosses bred for meat which only live about 6-8 weeks. Hybrid egg-laying breeds like Golden Comets typically live 2-3 years since they put so much energy into high egg production.
Heritage breeds, bred to be dual-purpose for meat and eggs, tend to live 6-8 years. Examples are Plymouth Rocks and Rhode Island Reds. The longest-lived breeds are rare landrace breeds that haven’t been selectively bred, like Swedish Flower Hens, which can live over 10 years.
In general smaller breeds like bantams live longer than larger breeds. Giant breeds like Jersey Giants and Brahmas rarely exceed 5-6 years.
Environment & Care
On commercial farms, chickens that live only in cages are culled when their egg production drops after one to two years. Free-range chickens generally live a bit longer.
Backyard chickens that receive attentive care and veterinary treatment can live 8-10 years since they’re protected from diseases, predators, and harsh weather. Proper housing, cleanliness, nutrition, and social dynamics also extend backyard chicken lifespans.
Heritage breeds thrive when allowed to free range and exhibit natural behaviors. Commercial breeds are less hardy and adaptable.
Egg Production
The length of time a hen lays eggs also depends on breed. Commercial egg breeds like Golden Comets lay intensively for about 18 months before production tapers off as early as 2-3 years old.
Heritage breeds don’t lay as many eggs as modern breeds until they are two to three years old, but they will keep laying eggs for five to eight years, though not as often. The average backyard hen lays eggs every day until it is about 4 years old.
Natural Causes
Genetics and inherent health play a role. Chickens that are weak, sick, or not getting enough food are more likely to get hurt, get parasites, viruses, or other conditions that can kill them. Heart attacks are common in rapidly growing commercial broiler breeds.
The occasional chicken may live to an advanced age of 10-12 years with ideal genetics, care, and luck in avoiding disease. The current world record for oldest chicken is 16 years!
Premature Death
Many backyard chickens don’t reach their maximum lifespan potential because:
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They fall victim to predators like coyotes, raccoons, hawks, dogs, or rats.
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They succumb to contagious poultry diseases like avian influenza or parasites.
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They’re killed by other chickens due to social conflicts and pecking order disputes.
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They’re intentionally slaughtered for meat as early as 2-3 months old.
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They experience accidents or injuries such as dog attacks or getting stuck in fencing.
If you give your heritage breed chickens the right housing, care, protection, and sanitation, they should live an average of 6 to 8 years. Some hens may even live longer than 10 useful and enjoyable years. If you follow best practices, chickens can live long, happy lives as pets and egg producers.
What Chicken Breeds Live the Longest?
The average lifespan of a chicken will depend on its breed. A chicken breed can be put into four main groups, which may help you figure out how long the breed usually lives.
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 goes for hybrid chickens bred for meat production since they are bred to mature rapidly and be butchered 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: 6 Factors That Impact Life Expectancy
FAQ
How long do backyard chickens live on average?
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.
What is the 90 10 rule for chickens?
This rule suggests that 90% of a hen’s diet should consist of a high-quality, complete layer feed that provides a balanced and nutritious foundation. The remaining 10% can be supplemented with healthy additions such as organic scratch grains, oyster shells, fresh vegetables, herbs, and bugs.
How long does a chicken live as a pet?
Healthy backyard chickens can live up to or longer than 10 years! Of course, considering they are healthy, have a good diet, no predator attacks or illness and good genetics. The average chicken will live 5-7 years. This is only an average. Oct 11, 2023.
How long do chickens lay eggs and live?
Chickens can lay eggs for roughly 2-3 years, with production declining after the first year.
How long do chickens live as pets?
Pet chickens have an average natural lifespan of around eight years, but some live for as long as ten or even twelve years. Smaller chicken breeds tend to have a longer life span than giant chickens, so a cute little Sebright will probably live for many more years than a majestic Brahma or Jersey Giant.
What is the life expectancy of a chicken?
What Is The Life Expectancy of Chickens? A chicken typically lives between five and ten years. However, the lifespan of different breeds varies greatly. A number of factors affect how long a chicken lives, including predation, flock dynamics, diseases, breed, and more.
How long do hybrid chickens live?
Most hybrid chickens live for three to five years, most dual-purpose chickens for six to eight years, and most heritage chicken breeds for longer than these two breeds. Heritage chicken breeds have an average lifespan of around or up to 8-10 years.
How long do chickens live in captivity?
Most chickens will live between 5 and 8 years in captivity if they aren’t slaughtered, regardless of breed. Some breeds, though, are known to live much longer than others, and some can even live longer than 10 years! Chickens that are kept as pets live surprisingly long lives.
How long does a production chicken live?
The average production breed lives for 3-5 years. Dual purpose chickens are chickens raised for the purpose of meat and eggs. Because they are not specialized like the production chickens, these breeds are slower to reach maturity. They tend to live longer than the production chickens and can reach 6-8 years.
How long do hens live?
Hens reared as part of a backyard flock usually live for 6 to 8 years, provided they do not succumb to injury or disease at a younger age. The average chicken lifespan can vary widely depending on the breed, with heritage breeds often having a longer life expectancy than hybrid birds intended for high egg production.