World’s Oldest Chicken, Peanut, Passes Away

Guinness World Records (GWR) has announced the demise of Peanut, the world’s oldest living chicken, on Christmas Day at her home in Michigan, USA. The news was shared by Peanut’s owner, Marsi Darwin, who expressed deep sorrow, describing Peanut as a cherished family member.

While there haven’t been similar incidents reported in Nigeria, in 2019, Alagba, a tortoise renowned as the oldest land-dwelling animal in Africa, passed away at the age of 344.

Though not officially recognized by Guinness World Records, Alagba resided in the palace of the Soun of Ogbomoso in Oyo State. According to Pet Keen, the average life expectancy of tortoises is 80 to 150 years.

Peanut, who passed away peacefully in her sleep at 21 years old, had been with Ms. Darwin since hatching from an egg. Ms. Darwin shared that she spent the last moments with Peanut, wrapping her in a blanket and holding her close.

Peanut spent the first two years of her life inside a parrot cage before joining the rest of the flock in an outdoor coop. She laid numerous egg nests during her lifetime, and her descendants now populate Marsi’s coop.

In her final years, Peanut lived indoors, sharing a cage with her daughter, Millie, who passed away on Halloween, followed by the loss of Luna, one of Peanut’s long-time friends, and Benny, her old rooster mate.

Ms. Darwin believes Peanut’s passing is a result of a combination of grieving for lost companions and the effects of old age. Peanut’s extraordinary life was marked by the delight she brought to online viewers and the media.

Peanut, a bantam breed, specifically a Belgian d’Uccle/Nankin mix, held the title of the world’s oldest living chicken, confirmed by GWR on March 1, 2023. Born in the spring of 2002, Peanut survived being abandoned by her mother, reaching an impressive age of at least 20 years and 304 days.

Muffy, a Red Quill Muffed American Game, held the record as the oldest chicken ever, living to the age of 23 years and 152 days. However, Peanut’s remarkable journey captured hearts worldwide, showcasing the resilience of this unique bantam breed.