How Long do Chickens Live? That is the question. The answer, well it depends. For most backyard chicken owners, we know we usually only get a few years, if that, with our chickens.
However, they can live much longer than that. It just so happens that predators and sickness may end up taking them at an early age.
Healthy chickens that don’t succumb to the demise of predators or any of the possible sickness, or diseases, usually live around 8 years.
However, there are reports of chickens living much longer.
Matilda – The Oldest Reported Chicken
A chicken named Matilda is in the Guinness World Record Book, as being the oldest chicken ever reported. She was 16 years old when she passed away in 2006.
Reportedly, she was an indoor chicken. She worked for much of her life, in a magician act with her caretakers.
I imagine that her caretakers took very good care of her. She probably had a good diet. Plus, many of the disease and sickness that attack our chickens, lie in the dirt and well…the poop.
Not being around those might have helped, plus she was safe from predators. Thus, leading to a long life.
How Long Do Chickens Live?
If a chicken can manage to avoid the dangers of disease, sickness, and predators they usually will live around 8 years. Sometimes a little longer.
If you’ve been wondering how long do chickens live, it really depends on how they’re cared for. It goes to say a healthy chicken may live longer.
- Their diet is very important. Read more about What to Feed Chickens. A good healthy diet can go a long way
- A clean coop can help cut down on bacteria that cause sickness or disease.
- Gather eggs daily.
Check out more tips for having Healthy Chickens.
Predators | How Long do Chickens Live?
I don’t know about you but many people I speak to, experience more deaths due to predator attacks than any other cause.
Keeping your chickens safe from predators is easier said than done.
My neighbor has had many chickens taken by hawks. We get them in droves here!
However, I’ve never had not even one chicken taken by a hawk. I’ve had them attempt to take a younger one who didn’t know how to hide well, but it failed because I caught him red handed.
Anywho, I get less hawk attacks because our chickens have plenty of places to hide. We live in the woods. There is only a small amount of woods cut back on our property for the house and some sheds, and the driveway.
The woods, under the porch, and in the bushes, we have in the landscaping allows for experienced chickens to hide from predators.
We have had many problems with raccoons. They most take eggs, but sometimes they will kill a chicken. Especially, when there are no eggs to eat. Once, we had a Raccoon In The Chicken Coop.
My neighbor on the other hand hardly has any trees where the chickens free-range. They don’t have bushes or a porch where they could hide. It’s just a big wide-open field, for the most part.
Having a place to hide from hawks is critical!
Other ways to help protect from predators is having predator-proof chicken coops, electric chicken wire fencing, hunting predators (if possible), and gather eggs daily since they are a food source for many animals.
Wounds & Disease | How Long do Chickens Live?
I just want to chat a little bit about the diseases that can cut a chicken’s life short. Some of these can start at birth, and some in adulthood. Having a chicken first aid kit is essential when you have chickens. It’s important to be able to take care of chicken wounds and infections. Simple infections like bumblefoot can take a chicken’s life if not cared for properly.
Parasites
External parasites – Mites, fleas, ticks, can inflict damage to feathers, cause anemia, and irritation to chickens, but the consequences can be more severe too. Some parasites can cause life-threatening illnesses like tick fever.
Internal parasites – Roundworms, and single-celled organisms called Coccidia, Trichomonas, and Giardia can attack the intestine lining. Then, it absorbs nutrients from the gut.
Therefore, if you notice that your chicken has lost weight, pale combs, and/or diarrhea, you may want to take your chicken to see a vet. However, a vet should be able to test the chicken to see if it has internal parasites and prescribe a good treatment.
Keep a clean coop and run area can help cut down on these internal parasites.
Wounds That Can Affect The Lifespan of chickens
Bumblefoot – The cause of bumblefoot is basically caused by bacteria invading through a cut, or scratch on the foot. This is an infection that can be deadly if not treated properly. Epsom salt baths, cleaning with Vetericyn, and applying a bumblefoot tincture and other medications may be necessary. A trip to the vet may be medically necessary if you can’t get the infection under control. They made prescribe antibiotics to help get the infection under control.
Wounds from predator attacks – If your chicken manages to get away, they may have some serious wounds that you need to deal with.
Pecking/Fighting wounds – Untreated wounds can become infected. Chickens tend to peck at blisters, scabs, and bloody areas. To combat this use Blue Kote, which colors the wound a dark blue and has an unpleasant taste to chickens. It’s also a germicide and fungicide and perfect for using as a wound dressing.
Other Sickness & Diseases | How Long do Chickens Live?
Marek’s Disease – A viral infection that only affects poultry. This virus can spread from chicken to chicken, together with feather dander, and dust. In addition to that, It lives for long periods of time and can travel via tools, dirt, clothes, etc…
Chickens can be infected with this disease when they are young. However, the chicken may not show signs of being infected until months after.
This terrible infection attacks white blood cells. Subsequently, this causes cancer. Other side effects would be tumors, weight loss, diarrhea, and respiratory issues.
There is a vaccine that can be given to day-old chicks, and you can get it from your local veterinarian. Most hatcheries vaccinate chicks.
Respiratory disease – Chickens have an especially feeble respiratory system. However, keeping their coop clean, can greatly increase the air they breathe at nighttime. Respiratory issues include: coughing, sneezing, and discharge from eyes or nose.
Fowl Pox – Yet another viral infection. In this case, the disease comes from biting insects and sometimes spreads through a scratch or other wound. Generally, scabs form on the comb and wattles. Furthermore, a worse version of this infection creates scabs in the mouth and throat.
Conversely, most cases of Fowl Pox will improve without being treated. However, you can get a vaccine for your chickens, but it must be done every few years. If a chicken survives the infection, some say it will be immune for life.
In conclusion, many of us don’t see chickens that live much more than a few years. However, they can live for about 8 years if their life is not interrupted by disease or predators.
What Does Brooding Mean? | What Is A Broody Chicken?
If you’re new to chickens, you may have heard the term broody before. Which usually leads to the question what does brooding mean? To simplify this all it really means is that a hen’s instinct to become a mother has begun. Some chicken breeds get broody and others do not. I’ll create a list in…
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What Are Sex Link Chickens? | What Breeds Make A Sex Link Chicken?
Have you ever wondered what Sex Link chickens are? Or maybe you just want to know what breeds are used to create them? On our homestead, we have some Red Sex Links. They are great layers and the rooster is intelligent and protective. Since we’ve enjoyed this breed for many years now…I thought I would…
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Chickens Eating Feathers | Why Do Chickens Eat Feathers?
There are many reasons why you might catch your chickens eating feathers. It might seem innocent for a chicken to eat a feather off the ground, but it’s about as innocent as them eating a freshly laid egg. Why Are My Chickens Eating Feathers? Stick around until the end to find out the biggest reason…
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Chicken Feather Loss | The Many Reasons Why Chickens Lose Feathers
When people think of chicken feather loss, most of us think about molting. However, molting isn’t the only reason chickens might lose their feathers. Did you know that some chicken feather loss is due to cannibalism? Yep! Reasons For Feather Loss Molting Of course, you already know, in the fall time chickens shed their summer…
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How Many Eggs Do Chickens Lay Naturally? | Daily & Yearly
How many eggs do chickens lay naturally? People message and ask this question more often than you would think! Some of them want to know how many eggs per year, and some want to know how many eggs are laid in a day. It’s perfectly normal to ask these questions when you don’t have much…
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Can Chickens Eat Bread?
Can Chickens eat bread? On the homestead, chickens are often known as garbage disposals, eating just about anything they come across. They also have great instincts about what they can’t eat. However, chickens are kinda like dogs in the way that they LOVE junk food! The thing about a chicken’s instinct is that it really…
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I always wondered how long chickens actually live. I have some chickens that are getting on the older side, but they are still laying thank goodness. Thanks for the info!
You’re welcome!