Gertie, a pet chicken from Portland in Maine, has been officially named the oldest living chicken in the world. Guinness World Records confirmed her age as 15 years and 100 days old. Her owner, Frank Turek, brought her to his home in 2010 when she was a newly hatched chick.
Gertie is a Golden Sebright chicken, which is a small breed known for its pretty feathers. Frank said her plumage looked stunning once it had fully grown. He also said she was always very photogenic and quickly became the leader of the flock.
Over the years, new chicks joined the group, but Gertie remained in charge. Some chickens passed away, while others were adopted by new owners, yet Gertie stayed as the main hen. A few years ago, she began to lose her sight, so Frank moved her into a private indoor coop in 2024 to keep her safe from younger hens.
Frank says Gertie enjoys her indoor life and likes having people nearby. She responds to her name with a gentle “pup, pup, pup” sound and seems to enjoy little “conversations” when people talk or sing to her. Gertie is more than six months older than the previous record-holder, a Texas chicken named Pearl, and she is expected to celebrate her 16th birthday in July.
