How Long Do Chickens Live? Meet the Oldest Chicken Ever

Chickens are a common bird around the world, as they are frequently bred for eggs and meat. They are the most populous birds on the planet, with billions raised in captivity and millions estimated to be living in the wild. Chickens are easily identified by their feathers, comb, wattle, and unique strut. As domesticated animals, their lifespans can vary significantly. Read on to find out how long chickens live and meet the oldest chicken ever.

Types of Chickens and Their Habitats

Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) originated from the red jungle fowl of Asia. Domestication is believed to have taken place 7,000-10,000 years ago in Southeast Asia and Oceania. With the help of humans, chickens have greatly expanded their range across both hemispheres. The largest populations live in China, Indonesia, Pakistan, Brazil, and the U.S.

Hundreds of chicken breeds have been identified so far, each with distinct traits such as plumage texture and color, skin color, egg color, place of origin, and more. For example, the silkie chicken is a Chinese breed known for having unique fluffy plumage, black meat, and for being an exceptional brooder. The Jersey Giant chicken reaches up to 13 pounds, making it the largest chicken in the world.

The vast majority of chickens today are raised in farm settings. Smaller farm habitats typically have open pens for chickens to roam throughout the day and chicken coops for the birds to rest in at night. Chickens that lay eggs typically roost inside the coop rather than in the open to avoid predators. As the demand for chicken has risen, the birds are often kept in larger factory farm settings. They may be free-range or kept in a large, crowded building all the time. With a global population of over 33 billion chickens as of 2020, factory farms are the most common living environment for these birds.

Typical Chicken Lifespan

In the U.S., a domesticated chicken’s lifespan is greatly affected by farming methods and the chicken’s purpose. Chickens generally have a lifespan of between 3 and 10 years. Those that are raised for meat are killed at a younger age. Most do not live longer than 18 weeks, depending on the class of meat bird. For example, broilers and fryers typically live 7 to 9 weeks, while roasters live 12 weeks or longer.

Well-cared-for laying hens can live for 6 to 8 years on average. However, some may live longer depending on the conditions and the individual. Roosters typically live from 5 to 8 years. Sadly, male chicks in the egg industry are killed shortly after hatching because they cannot lay eggs and are unsuitable for meat.

However, undomesticated chickens living in the wild average between 4 and 7 years. They may live longer depending on the type of chicken and its living conditions. For example, the red junglefowl has a lifespan of around 10 to 14 years. But overall, wild chickens typically have higher mortality rates than protected backyard chickens due to accidents, predators, and other environmental factors.

The World’s Oldest Chicken

The record for the oldest chicken that ever lived is held by Muffy, a red quill muffed American game hen from Maryland. Muffy reached the ripe old age of 23 years and 152 days old when she died in 2011. This is an exceptional case in which the owner provided the chicken with excellent care, allowing her to thrive for about three times the average lifespan of a chicken.

Peanut, a Belgian d’Uccle/Nankin mix that held the Guinness World Record for the oldest living chicken until her death at age 21 in 2023. The current record-holder for the world’s oldest living chicken is Pearl, an Easter Egger hen from Little Elm, Texas. Pearl was 14 years and 69 days old when the record was verified on May 22, 2025. Pearl was only expected to live 5 to 8 years, but the little hen continues to defy the odds.