5 Things To Expect As Your Flock Ages
Time changes living creatures and your backyard flock is no exception. If you have the ability to allow your flock to age naturally and retire with you, here are some things you can expect to see. Some flock owners choose to cycle their flocks every few years in entirety using a mixture of generational replacements and humane processing. Please do not attempt to cull and process a chicken at home without first doing proper research and obtaining the proper equipment. You can wing many things in life, butchering animals is not one of them. This will not only result in unusable meat, but needless suffering for both you and the animal.
Many people are surprised to find out many chickens are long lived animals. Some heritage breeds can live up to 10 years or more with proper care and support. The life expectancy of a bantam chicken is between 5-8 years. Hybrid and high production layers like the sapphire gem, the comet, and the leghorn are much shorter lived, 2-5 years, and typically die from production-related ailments or failing health. These numbers are general averages. There are always individual exceptions and extraordinary circumstances. Your chickens’ individual heritage, breed, their environment, nutrition, predator protection, and the support you provide will all play a factor in the length of their lifespan. Laying hens typically reach the height of their egg laying years sometime between 2-4 years depending on the breed. They can and will continue to lay eggs after their prime, just not as reliably or as often. An aging rooster will naturally decline in his virility after 2 years of age. Aging hens and roosters can still play an important role in your flock. Older flock members can still teach the younger generation foraging skills, they can still provide pest control by eating insects, older chickens help maintain stability within the pecking order, they demonstrate proper laying and nesting behavior, as well as provide protection for younger less experienced flock members.
Egg production will decrease. After 2-4 years of age the number of eggs your hens will be able to produce will decrease. Heritage breeds can lay for longer periods of time than high production breeds. Your hens can and will continue to lay eggs after their prime, just not as often.
Your older flock members may begin to show signs of aging like arthritis. Regular movements like climbing and scratching may become difficult for older flock members. To provide support for this condition give aging flock members perches of various kinds and heights. Adding a platform for roosting can be especially helpful as aging flock members lose the ability to grip effectively. Things like a ramp making accessing the nesting boxes and perches easier. A bale of straw or hay can also provide a soft, lower perching place and can be replaced and composted when it is too soiled to continue to use.
Your aging chickens may need assistance with basic hygiene from time to time. Flocks of any age benefit from access to a dust bath to maintain healthy skin and feathers. Even with access to a dust bath you may need to bath an aging chicken or assist with trimming their nails as their mobility decreases with time and basic tasks become more difficult. A dedicated dish tub or bucket works great to provide the occasional lukewarm soothing epsolm salt bath to an aging hen. You can trim chicken nails just as you would dog nails. Be careful not to trim them too severely or you risk damaging the quick which is painful and bleeds. Styptic powder or corn starch can be used to stop the bleeding if you accidentally cut back a nail too severely.
Your older hens may have difficulty eating. Some older hens have difficulty biting and swallowing large and harder types of food as they age. Fermenting your feed, providing mash (a combination of water and your chosen complete poultry feed), and providing crumble style feed are all options to make eating a little easier for older chickens. You may also consider adding to your water stations in addition to plan, fresh water, a hydration packet or vitamin supplement as aging hen bodies will not absorb nutrients as efficiently as they did in their prime. Flocks of any age benefit from access to free-choice poultry grit and oyster shell supplement.
Have a plan for the end. All life ends at some point. Have a plan for when your aging flock members expire. For some burial at home is possible and appropriate. If you feel your chicken is suffering and you don’t feel comfortable culling the chicken yourself many local and livestock vets offer cull services for a small fee. If you suspect a disease and not old age has claimed the life of your chicken, contact your local veterinarian for information about which agencies perform necropsies in your region. The remains of the chicken will not be returned to you but you’ll receive important information regarding the cause of death of your chicken. If you suspect a disease is present in your flock watch for additional impacted flock members and enact an isolation plan as needed. If you’re dealing with an undiagnosed disease outbreak within your flock you can consult your local livestock veterinarian for additional guidance. Some signs your chickens’ life is coming to a natural end include things like lethargy, isolating behavior, or a disinterest in water or food. These can also be the beginning indicators of a pest or disease outbreak within your flock so if you see spreading signs of failing health within your flock act fast to discover the root cause.
Some things you can do to provide your flock with the longest, healthiest life possible. Avoid overcrowding. Clean and maintain your chicken facilities with both seasonal deep cleans and daily maintenance. Monitor your flock visually daily for signs of any concerns. Provide adequate and complete poultry nutrition appropriate to your flock’s breed and purpose. Give your flock nutritious greens and chicken safe herbs as treats and additions to their existing nutrition regimen. Provide multiple food and water stations to allow lower status and aging flock members to eat and drink without harassment. Ferment your chicken feed. Reduce flock stress by making flock changes intentionally and only a few times a year if needed. Provide multiple kinds of perches at various heights. Provide a dust bath. Provide plenty of enrichment items like climbing objects, nutritious treats, and perches. Provide safe, dry, clean, predator proof housing for your chickens.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this post all about what to expect as your flock ages and what you can do to provide your flock with longest, happiest life possible. If you would like to learn more about backyard chickens and homesteading, be sure to check out Chuck’s other social media linked below.
Chuck and the Chicks 