How many years does a chicken live at home and what affects this period
The widespread distribution of chickens of various breeds in private farmsteads is due to the profitability of production and the taste of products. For rational farming, planning and timely renewal 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 many years does a chicken live
The lifespan of chickens depends on their purpose. With scrupulous planning and proper management of the farm, 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 hen is replaced with a younger individual.
Meat
When raising chickens for meat, life expectancy is usually calculated in months. Intensive feeding from an early age promotes active weight gain. Meat chickens give the greatest weight gain in the first two months. Further, the daily growth, with the same feeding rates, sharply decreases. The taste of meat also changes not for the better.
Chickens of meat breeds are bred for a short time; after three months they are slaughtered. The maximum lifespan of meat breeds in households is six months.
Meat and egg
Under optimal conditions of keeping and feeding, meat and egg chickens in private farmsteads begin to lay at the age of four months and actively continue to delight the owners with dietary eggs for up to two years. Starting from this age, the number of laid eggs 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.
In households, highly productive chickens are often found that fly well up to five years.
Decorative
The lifespan of decorative breeds depends on the purpose of their cultivation. Most often, such a bird is brought up solely for beauty.With timely vaccination, proper maintenance and free range, decorative chickens calmly live up to 17 years old, and for many years they delight the owners with extraordinary beauty.
Cellular content and a sedentary lifestyle negatively affect the spectacular representatives of the decorative breed. In such conditions, the lifespan of a chicken is much shorter.
Factors affecting life expectancy
Where chickens live affects life expectancy. When raising birds on farms and factories, they artificially accelerate their productivity. As a result, there is a sharp increase in weight gain and egg production for a short period of time. Already after a few months in this mode, the poultry spends possible resources: there is a decrease in the daily weight gain in meat breeds and in the number of laid eggs in meat and egg breeds. Chickens are immediately slaughtered.
At home, the bird is more attentive and careful. It is not uncommon here when the pet is left as long as it continues to rush at least a little.
The average lifespan of domestic chickens is due to several factors:
- peculiarities of nutrition and maintenance;
- breed standards;
- the likelihood of contracting all kinds of diseases.
Let us dwell on each point in more detail.
Breed features
Household broilers are the least late. 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 are much more fortunate. Such a bird is kept for several years - until egg production is maintained at a high level.
Correct feeding
A balanced diet guarantees timely development and stable egg production. When raising birds, they adhere to established feeding norms corresponding to the breed. This prevents both obesity and excessive thinness of the bird, and prolongs its healthy life.
The predominant food for chickens is freshly prepared mash, consisting of steamed compound feed with vitamin additives. Dry grain keeps the stomach running smoothly. From spring to late autumn, grass is included in the diet of chickens. The addition of vitamins and minerals to food increases egg production and ensures the strength of the shell.
Conditions of detention
The creation of 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 optimal temperature and humidity in the room;
- lighting of the poultry house for at least 14-16 hours;
- arrangement of a reliable ventilation system;
- free daily walking for at least three hours;
- compliance with sanitary standards when placing poultry;
- installation in a sufficient number of feeders, drinkers, nests, perches.
- the constant presence of sand and ash in the chicken coop;
- periodic disinfection of the poultry house.
Fulfillment of all of the above conditions has a beneficial effect on the health of chickens and increases their lifespan.
Diseases
Often, premature mortality of chickens is caused by the development of all kinds of infectious diseases. Timely vaccination of the livestock will help prevent disease and damage to the entire herd.
How many years can chickens be kept?
The average lifespan of a chicken is 15 years, the maximum is 22 years. However, chickens rarely manage to live to a ripe old age. Usually, with a decrease in productivity, they are immediately allowed to slaughter.
Longest-lived chickens
The average old chicken is an individual that has lived to be 13 years old.The old dwarf chicken, entered in the Guinness Book of Records, turned 14. According to unconfirmed facts, the long-lived chicken lives in China. Her age has reached 20 years.
How long do roosters live?
Roosters of meat breeds on farms keep, on average, about three months. At this time, the maximum possible daily growth occurs, and the bird is gaining the necessary weight.
Breeding egg and meat and egg chickens cannot be imagined without the presence of an active cockerel on the farm. However, fertility decreases with age. To obtain healthy offspring and a high percentage of hatching of chicks, roosters in households change every year or two. Active individuals are often found. Such a rooster is allowed to live in the chicken kingdom for about four years.
How long can a headless chicken survive?
So the life of the average chicken is coming to an end. The aged bird is prepared for slaughter, its head is chopped off. However, due to the anatomical features and 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 headless rooster 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 cock was fed liquid food through IVs. He walked confidently, slept on a roost 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 has been erected in his honor and an annual festival is held.
How to increase the lifespan of domestic chickens?
In case of acute need, the life expectancy of domestic chickens can be influenced and promoted. This will require:
- Organize a rationed ration with excellent quality feed.
- Establish a clear daily routine.
- To equip the chicken coop in accordance with the standards of maintenance and favorable conditions for a comfortable life.
- Eliminate possible causes of stress.
- Organize daily outdoor walks.
- Develop a vaccination schedule and stick to it.
As a rule, the chicken is not allowed to live a full life. This is due to lower profitability of maintenance and high costs. On private farmsteads, birds are kept, on average, no more than six years; in farms, the residence of chickens is much shorter.
