It's my understanding that yes females have only so many eggs-people included. It's a pre-determined amount but not a set amount between species. Remember that ~80 year old woman 10 years ago had a baby? Not all follow the book.

What a grand ole gal you have there. She's just showin those young chicks how it's done. I hope you kept some of those chicks. We switched to the BO's after many years of RIR's, because we wanted the type of mothering & nurturing your girl has. We have some of the Easter Eggers, too, only for the green eggs though.

She's a good ole age & that shows the care she's received, good job.

I think you know the answer as far as the last hoora.
Brendasue

I have had a few black Hamburg hens to a ripe old age, about 8 or 9. A mink killed them along with 20 others one night. I kept them a long time because they were my best inbred line of cock producers, their female chicks never panned out. They did make afew eggs but their chicks werent up to snuff, less vigor so I just ate the eggs. Roosters seem to go sterile sooner than the hens, in my experience at least.

Other factors change before all the eggs are released in most animals, I do not know about birds specifically but from a game theory perspective limiting the number of tiny egg cells to end egg production is a poor way to conserve resources and from a biochemistry and and genetics perspective its an easy fix evolutionarily. It was at one time assumed that humans were born with all of their eggs intact but this finding has been overturned, it would not be surprising if hens had a similar mechanism.

your chick is like a real woman. Never let the younger ones show her up. LOL!!! She's a real diva!

Wow, she has been a well cared for bird! Sounds like she is showing off a bit and probably has done her good to be around the younger birds. I currently have a BO who has been broody for weeks but I keep taking her eggs :( I plan to make her a space in the coop this weekend and let her do her thing. As much for my interest as hers, LOL. Lori

What a wonderful story! I love hearing about old girls like her, how wonderful that she can still lay an egg, amazing! Velvet had a few quite old girls. It's a real testament to the quality care you have and are giving her.

Thanks for sharing your story :)

Sheila

I had no idea chickens could live that long! Wow!

I take no credit for being a great provider for my chickens. I take care of them but nothing like some I have read about on here. This is my setup. My two chicken pens are 10' wide x 30' long each. The end 10' has a metal roof cover for the nest boxes, roost, automatic feed and water. No more than ten chickens per pen. The pens are made with 6" aluminum post and 6' high chain link fencing. 3 strands of electric fence wire around the outside. The front 20' has 3 different varieties of scuppernong vines growing across the tops at 2' intervals that provides shade in the summer. The leaves fall, giving good sunlight in the yard for the winter. Scuppernongs love growing next to a chicken pen and the chickens love the grapes that drop and any I consider excess.
I feed my chickens homegrown field corn, summer garden culls/excess. During the winter they get turnip greens, spinach, kale, mustard, peas and loose leaf lettuce. On occasion I will cook the turnip roots till tender and feed them too. Very little commercial feed. They are free ranged most evenings. I use no preventive medications. I contribute the long life to the breed, free space and diet. It is not uncommon for Orpingtons to live 7 to 10 years but I have never had one laying regular this late in life. I really think being around the young hens triggered something in her. I know when I am around my nephews I forget how old I am until the next day. By the way, as of yesterday she is still laying. I may let her raise one last clutch if she goes broody. I will take fancifowls advice and use a younger hens eggs.

He says he takes no credit for being a great provider then gives examples of great care. Well I guess modesty is a virtue.

Just curious: is your old girl still around?