How long do chickens live? How long do chickens live naturally? Remember, many farmers use them for meat. Which are the best breeds, and what can you do to improve a chicken’s lifespan? These are all questions that any aspiring backyard chicken keeper would reasonably ask themselves and any experts around them.<\/p>\n
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, there are about<\/a> 1,600 different breeds of chicken worldwide. Each of these breeds has its own unique advantages and disadvantages.<\/p>\n For example, the Black Silkie chicken<\/a> and the Kiriri chicken<\/a> are not only highly-valued backyard chicken breeds but are also often kept as pet chickens or ornamental chickens instead of being bred for their egg laying prowess.<\/p>\n Those honors are often left to other breeds, such as Rhode Island Reds<\/a>, Plymouth Rock chickens<\/a>, and the Cinnamon Queen chicken<\/a>, all of which are prolific egg layers. Of course, other breeds are simply raised as meat chickens, while many others are kept because they are heritage chickens.<\/p>\n The point is that each breed has a primary purpose. To understand how long chickens live, you need to focus on a specific breed and look at a few other factors that play a big role in determining the chicken’s lifespan.<\/p>\n With that in mind, let’s look at how long chickens live and other fun facts you might want to know to be a successful chicken keeper.<\/p>\n