How long does a chicken live: average lifespan at home

The widespread distribution of chickens of various breeds in private backyards is due to the profitability of production and the taste of products. For rational housekeeping, planning and timely updating of the herd, it is necessary to know how many years a rooster or hen of a certain breed lives, when an age-related decrease in egg production occurs and an intensive increase in mass stops.

How long does a chicken live

The life expectancy of chickens depends on their purpose. With careful planning and proper management, poultry farmers do not wait for the natural death of birds.With the onset of the age threshold, after which a decrease in productivity inevitably occurs, and the maintenance of the bird becomes unprofitable, the old chicken is replaced by a younger one

Meat

When growing chickens for meat, life expectancy is usually calculated in months. Intensive feeding from an early age contributes to active weight gain. Meat chickens give the greatest weight gain in the first two months. Further, daily growth, with the same feeding norms, sharply decreases. The taste of meat is also not changing for the better.

Chicken meat breeds are bred for a short time; already after three months they clog. The maximum life expectancy of beef breeds in households is six months.

Meat and eggs

Under optimal conditions of keeping and feeding, meat and egg chickens in private farmsteads begin to lay eggs at the age of four months and actively continue to please the owners with dietary eggs for up to two years.Starting from this age, the number of eggs laid gradually decreases, and chickens, most often, are allowed to be slaughtered.

Egg

Egg breeds are highly productive, but demanding on the conditions of keeping and feeding. In the first years of life, with proper care, the productivity of egg layers is at a high level. Starting from the age of three, there is a gradual decrease in egg production; it is much more profitable for poultry farmers to replace the old chicken with a younger one.

It is not uncommon for households to have highly productive hens that lay excellent eggs up to five years of age.

Decorative

The lifespan of decorative breeds depends on the purpose of their cultivation. Most often, such a bird is bred solely for beauty. With timely vaccination, proper maintenance and free range, ornamental chickens live quietly up to 17 years, and for many years delight their owners with extraordinary beauty.

Cell content and a sedentary lifestyle negatively affect the spectacular representatives of the decorative breed. Under such conditions, the lifespan of a chicken is much shorter.

Factors affecting life expectancy

The location of chickens affects life expectancy. When growing birds on farms and factories, their productivity is artificially accelerated. As a result, there is a sharp increase in weight gain and egg production for a short period of time. After a few months in this mode, the bird spends possible resources: there is a decrease in the daily weight gain in meat breeds and the number of eggs laid in meat and egg breeds. Chickens are immediately slaughtered.

At home, a more attentive and careful attitude to the bird. Here, it is not uncommon for a pet to be left as long as it continues to rush a little.

The life expectancy of domestic chickens is determined by several factors:

• features of food and content;
• breed standards;
• probability of contracting all sorts of diseases.

Let's take a closer look at each point.

Breed features

Broilers are the least lingering in households. They are purchased in the spring, and as soon as the bird has gained sufficient body weight, they are slaughtered. Meat-egg and egg breeds were much more fortunate. Such a bird is kept for several years - until egg production is maintained at a high level.

Proper feeding

Balanced nutrition guarantees the timely development and stable egg production of chickens. When growing birds, they adhere to the established feeding norms corresponding to the breed.This prevents both obesity and excessive thinness of the bird, and prolongs its he althy lifespan.

The predominant food for chickens is a freshly prepared mash, consisting of steamed compound feed with vitamin supplements. Dry grain ensures the smooth functioning of the stomach. From spring to late autumn, grass is included in the diet of chickens. Adding vitamins and minerals to food helps increase egg production and provides shell strength.

Containment conditions

Creating favorable conditions for keeping chickens contributes to the timely development of poultry and helps prevent a number of dangerous diseases that increase mortality and shorten life. For chickens you will need:

• maintaining the optimum temperature and humidity in the room;
• house lighting for at least 14-16 hours;
• development of a reliable ventilation system;
• free daily walking for at least three hours;
• compliance with sanitary standards when placing poultry;
• installing a sufficient number of feeders, drinkers, nests, perches.
• constant presence of sand and ash in the chicken coop;
• carrying out periodic disinfection of the poultry house.

Fulfillment of all the above conditions favorably affects the he alth of chickens and increases their lifespan.

Diseases

Often, premature mortality of chickens is caused by the development of various infectious diseases. Timely vaccination of livestock will help prevent diseases and damage to the entire herd.

How long can chickens be kept?

The average lifespan of a chicken is 15 years, the maximum is 22 years. However, it is rare for chickens to live to a ripe old age. Usually, when productivity decreases, they are immediately allowed to be slaughtered.

The longest living chickens

An average old hen is considered to be an individual who has lived to 13 years. The old Guinness World Record-listed pygmy chicken is 14 years old. According to unconfirmed facts, the long-lived chicken lives in China. Her age has reached 20.

How long do roosters live?

Roosters of meat breeds are kept on farms, on average, for about three months. At this time, the maximum possible daily gain occurs, and the bird gains the necessary weight.

Breeding of egg and meat-and-egg chickens is impossible to imagine without an active cockerel on the farm. However, fertility declines with age. To obtain he althy offspring and a high percentage of incubation of rooster chicks in households, they change every year or two. Often there are active individuals. Such a rooster is allowed to live in the chicken kingdom for about four years.

How long can a headless chicken survive?

The life of the average chicken is coming to an end. An aged bird is prepared for slaughter, its head is cut off. However, due to anatomical features and the preservation of motor reflexes, after cutting off the head, the chicken continues to live for some time.

A unique case of a long life of a rooster without a head was recorded in the state of Colorado. When slaughtered, part of the spinal cord remained intact, and the decapitated bird lived for 18 months. The rooster was fed liquid food through drips. He moved confidently, slept on a perch, and even tried to sing in the morning. The cause of death was mucus not pumped out in time. In the city of Fruita, a metal monument is erected in his honor and an annual festival is held.

How to increase the life of domestic chickens?

When there is an urgent need, you can influence the life expectancy of domestic chickens and help increase it. For this you will need:

1. Organize a rationed diet with excellent quality food.
2. Set a clear daily routine.
3. Establish a chicken coop in accordance with the standards of maintenance and favorable conditions for a comfortable life.
4. Remove possible causes of stress.
5. Organize daily outdoor walks.
6. Develop a vaccination schedule and stick to it.

As a rule, a chicken is not allowed to live a full life. This is due to a decrease in the profitability of maintenance and high costs. Birds are kept on private farmsteads, on average, for no more than six years; in farms, chickens live for much less.

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