Maine Chicken Named World's Oldest at 15 Years

A tiny golden chicken named Gertie just proved that good things really do come in small packages.

Frank Turek brought Gertie home to his Portland, Maine property as a freshly hatched chick in 2010. The Golden Sebright chicken quickly stood out with her stunning plumage and photogenic personality.

Despite being one of the smaller chicken breeds, Gertie became the undisputed leader of her flock. "We've had four influxes of new chicks since the original flock," Turek told Guinness World Records. "Many have long since passed, and through all of those personnel changes, Gertie was the presumptive leader."

Guinness recently verified Gertie as the oldest chicken living at 15 years and 100 days old. She beat the previous record holder, a Texas chicken named Pearl, by more than six months.

Life hasn't always been easy for the feathered senior citizen. A few years ago, Gertie started losing her vision. Turek moved her to a private indoor coop in 2024 to protect her from confrontations with younger, more aggressive hens.

The change turned out to be perfect for Gertie. She now enjoys a peaceful solo life indoors and thrives on human company. When someone calls her name, she responds with a sweet "pup, pup, pup" and happily engages in back-and-forth conversations when people talk or sing to her.

Sunny's Take

There's something beautiful about watching a creature thrive well beyond expectations. Gertie reminds us that size doesn't determine strength, and age doesn't mean slowing down. Her daily chats with Turek show that connection and care matter at every stage of life.

Gertie will celebrate her 16th birthday this July, continuing to rewrite what's possible for backyard chickens everywhere.