Do appetites decrease with age?

[Pubchick]

I have a Barnevelder who is in her seventh year. She was an awesome layer right through to this year when her eggs were often soft shelled and nothing like as many.

The summer before last she was almost dead twice with a recurring illness that turned out to be something she caught from the wild pigeons that hung about in the coup, Baytril only produced temporary improvement until eventually a course of injected Tylan did the trick once and for all but I suspect it must have weakened her. One time she was found slumped on her side utterly motionless. I treated her because she'd certainly earned it and figured if she just had that one last summer... then she went through a hard winter and this summer too!

She's recently completed her moult ready for winter, she share's the top of the pecking order with my other 'old dear', a Cream Crested Legbar so she's not picked on at all but she's gone a bit quiet and although she's eating she isn't as interested as she used to be. She looks fit, bright eyes etc...
could it just be that she's feeling her age? I understand that Barnevelders are not known for their longevity and she's had a demanding life.

They're all due a worming now so I'll see if that helps but I've never had an elderly hen before, I just wondered if it might be something I should treat or perhaps not, no cure for old age sadly!

 

[chrismahon]

Hi Pubchick. All our hens reduce their eating when they are not laying. Drops from 150g per day to about 50g. 7th year should be the laying last but there are plenty of exceptions. Yes, she will be getting a bit tired and looking forward to warmer less windy weather, just like me. She is doing well getting through the moult so I'm sure she will keep surprising you.

 

[foxy]

I should say 7 is a very good age, specially for large fowl. I don't do anything different with my old ladies, maybe they have the comfiest house, and the most sheltered run. I have brought one of my old dears she is 7 now inside one of the brooding sheds as I have rather a special affection for her!

The bantam breeds tend to live a bit longer, overall than my large fowl I can get my large faverolles to around 6 and that's really good going for them, I have some older bantams and a pekin who must be 10 years old now.

I find if they get past their first moult then they are likely to have developed/inherited a sound immune system, and as long as no nasties are brought in are generally long lived 17 Hybrids are a bit different, as the prolific laying seems to shorten their lives, that's just my experience as any hybrids I have had haven't got past 3 years old.

 

[Chuck]

Seven is a good age and she seems to have been a good worker, so even more credit due. They do slow down like us when they get older. I've got quite a few grannies here as I don't cull them just because they're old and if they've done me well, they can retire and have a good rest. They get no special treatment though and have to rough it with the rest. Food consumption goes down and they drink less when not in lay.