How long does a rooster live? No alarm device works better than a rooster crowing in your backyard at the crack of dawn. Roosters are an integral part of peoples’ daily life in both rural and urban areas. An adult male chicken belonging to the Galliformes order is a rooster.
It guards its territory, keeps predators at bay, and keeps an eye out for its hen. For farmers and regular people who rear chickens, roosters are economically beneficial because they are actually necessary for increasing the size of the flock.
But how much do you really understand about this amazing, colorful bird? Are you interested in finding out more about this creature that has been described in mythology all around the world? If you’re thinking about getting a rooster, here are some intriguing statistics about their longevity.
You may also want to read about the best chicken feed.
How Long Does a Rooster Live?
How long does a rooster live? Roosters can live for between 5-8 years on average. But, if they are properly cared for in captivity, their typical longevity can reach 10-15 years. Roosters are less docile than hens and live most of their lives on high alert in order to protect the other birds. They frequently have shorter lives than female hens as a result.
Looking at the chickens that have lived the longest makes this clear. The oldest rooster, who lived to be about 12 years old, passed away from heart failure, according to the official Guinness Book of World Records. Contrast this with Matilda, a Red Pyle chicken that served as magician Keith Barton’s helper and lived to the age of 16. She was recognized as the Oldest Chicken in the World by Guinness World Records.
Now that we have a better understanding of the rooster’s life cycle, let’s look at how they develop from tiny chickens into the enormous, eye-catching creatures we all know and love.
The Typical Life Cycle of a Rooster
How long does a rooster live? A rooster’s life cycle is rather fascinating! Even the least ardent animal lover will be amazed after learning how a tiny egg develops into a hen or rooster. Let’s look more closely at the three primary stages below:
Egg
A hen cannot lay a clutch of fertilized eggs until she has mated with a rooster. She will start to lay an egg after the eggs have been fertilized, which will take about 25 hours. Most birds in the wild only lay eggs until a clutch is full, at which point they incubate every egg.
At this point, hens are known to “get broody”. The broody hen will stop laying eggs and instead focus on incubating them. She will “sit” or “set” on the nest and defend herself by fluffing up or pecking if she is bothered or removed.
Chick
Normally, the chick inside the egg matures for 21 days while consuming the egg yolk. The baby chick breaks away from the eggshell by using its “egg tooth” to peck a hole in the shell.
A chick will start to develop its first real feathers around day 5, and around day 12 it will start to show distinct bone development and wing feathers. Baby chickens will continue to grow and develop while being watched over by their mothers, learning typical chicken activities like roosting and foraging.
Older Chicken
When a chicken reaches sexual maturity and starts laying eggs, they are generally regarded as adults. Depending on the breed, this occurs when the chickens are between 16 and 24 weeks old. Around 4 to 5 months of age, young roosters reach sexual maturity, produce sperm, and start to behave like adult roosters. They can remain fertile for a very long time.
Factors Affecting the Longevity of a Rooster
The longevity of a rooster will depend on a number of things. The living conditions and whether a rooster lives in the wild or in captivity have a direct impact on how long they live. Provde them with a great food in the first place.
Among the most important ones are:
Humans are the most dangerous rooster predators because they often kill them for food. Sometimes, roosters are made to compete in cockfighting matches despite the fact that this is illegal in many nations. Opossums, bobcats, snakes, raccoons, hawks, owls, and skunks are just a few of the additional animals that act as natural predators.
Environment: Although roosters can endure chilly temperatures, inclement weather necessitates shelter for them. This explains why, with the exception of Antarctica, roosters may be found everywhere. They require moderate temperatures; extremes in either direction can harm them or even kill them.
Genes: Throughout time, roosters have been selectively bred for various goals. This includes encouraging higher reproduction rates to produce more fowl for consumption. But occasionally, these genetic changes can have catastrophic repercussions.
