chickens are a type of bird that was first domesticated more than 10,000 years ago. Today, chickens are a common sight around the world as they are often bred for eggs and meat. Chickens are the most densely populated birds on the planet, with billions of them raised in captivity and living in the wild.
These chickens are easily identified by their comb and braid, somewhat small size and unique strut. Interestingly, as domesticated animals, their lifespans can vary quite a bit, so we’re going to take a look at the oldest chicken that ever lived and see how they measure up to other birds.
Types of chickens and their habitat
Chickens belong to the Gallus gallus species, a subspecies of the red junglefowl that originated in Asia. With the help of humans, chickens have greatly expanded their habitat to different countries in both hemispheres. The largest population lives in China, while the United States and the UK also have significant populations.
Hundreds of chicken breeds have been identified so far, each of which has its own characteristics such as plumage, skin color, egg color, place of origin and other factors. For example the silk chicken is a Chinese breed known for its unique fluffy plumage, black flesh and exceptional breeding bird. Some breeds are smaller, while the Jersey Giant chicken can weigh up to 13 pounds, making it the largest chicken in the world.
The vast majority of chickens are kept on different farms today. The habitats of smaller farms typically have open coops where chickens can roam all day and chicken coops where the birds can rest at night. chickens that lay eggs usually roost in the loft rather than out in the open to avoid predators.
As the demand for chickens has increased, the birds are often kept in larger factory farms where they roam freely (similar to the farm environments mentioned above), or they can be kept in a large, busy building all the time. With several billion chickens alive today, factory farms are the most common living situation.
Typical Lifespan of Chickens
The typical lifespan of chickens is heavily influenced by the farming practices that humans have imposed on the birds. Chickens that survive the first cull and are raised for their meat and eggs tend to survive between 2 and 4 years. However, many birds are slaughtered closer to the 2-year-old than to the 4-year-old.
However, chickens living in the wild can live for more than 7 years. This requires decent living conditions and safety from predators such as chickens can’t fly. Chickens can survive for quite some time if they are properly cared for by their owners or with optimal living conditions.
The oldest chicken in the world
The world’s oldest chicken that ever lived was named Muffy, a bird that reached the age of 22 and died in 2011. This is an extreme case where the owner gave the chicken an amazing treatment that allowed it to thrive almost three times the average life span of a chicken.
Muffy lived an easy life without laying many eggs, a fact that seems to be present in many of the oldest chickens identified and certified by registry offices.
Other chickens that have reached old age
Muffy’s 22-year lifespan was to date the longest a chicken has ever survived. However, other chickens lived much longer than the expected 8-year lifespan. Some other chickens that paved the way for a record live longevity are:
- Matilda lived to be 16 years old and was the first chicken to be recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest chicken
- Bob Ross was a chicken that lived to be 20 years old, but never received a certificate regarding its longevity
- Old Hen is considered the longest-lived chicken as of 2021 and is poised to live up to Muffy’s amazing longevity or beyond.
Each of these birds received extraordinary care from their owners in terms of protection from predators and consistent food. In addition, they benefited from specific physical traits, such as a lack of egg-laying and a smaller size than other birds.
Do chickens live longer compared to other birds?
Chickens are not a particularly long-lived species unless they are placed in good conditions. However, they have a similar lifespan to many similar birds.
- Ducks tend to live anywhere from 5-10 years in captivity, which is comparable to chickens not raised specifically for meat and eggs.
- Domestic turkeys can also live to be 10 years old, but rarely reach that age for the same reasons as chickens
- Wild turkeys survive between 3-5 years, much lower than domestic turkeys. They face additional hardships such as disease and predation.
- Canada geese can live for between 10-24 years, much longer than most birds last.
In general, chickens are not outliers when it comes to their longevity. However, chickens that receive exceptionally good care can live nearly as long as the most enduring birds.
The social order of chickens
The term “pecking order” describes the social hierarchy of chickens. When a new hen is introduced to a domestic living situation with ot
he
rs, it is often attacked by larger, stronger birds who set the newcomer in place with pecks.
Sometimes the newcomer will fight back in such a way that he gains pecking order status. Over time, the hens understand which bird is where in the pecking order, which reduces the frequency of disputes in the coop.
Chickens are interesting creatures that are found all over the world today. Although they are the most populous birds in the world, they are also the most frequently slaughtered for food products.
These chickens can often survive for almost a decade with the right care and conditions, but this is rarely seen. Still, Old Hen could survive to break the record and become the longest-lived chicken of all time, claiming the spot from current record holder, Muffy.