https://www.wbur.org/news/2026/04/30/worlds-oldest-chicken-maine
Meet Gertie, the world's oldest chicken who lives in Portland
In a neighborhood not far from downtown Portland, there's a teenager who lives with two cats and a Great Dane. She likes jazz, taking naps, and.... pecking at kitchen scraps.
Her name is Gertie, and she's a chicken.
At age 15, the Guinness Book of World Records recently declared her the world's oldest chicken.
Gertie is a bantam, about half the size of a regular hen, with striking pumpkin-colored feathers outlined in black.
Gertie isn't intimidated by humans, he says. She's lived within four different flocks and even learned to crow like a rooster to keep her spot at the top of the pecking order.
But as Gertie aged, she started to lose her sight. The other hens sensed she was vulnerable and attacked her a couple times, Turek says. Then, on Christmas Day in 2024, "I heard this ruckus out in the coop," Turek says. "And I went back and her head was all bloody. It was really horrifying. They nearly killed her."
After that, Turek decided to keep Gertie in the house.
When Turek (her owner) plays sax by the great Charlie Parker, Gertie tilts her head and tucks one of her legs up into her feathers.
I'm not sure what that means," Turek says as he chuckles. "Turn up the volume?"
Turek will turn up the volume this July when Gertie turns 16. He plans to throw her a party. He'll put some lights on her cage, invite a few friends over, and play some jazz.
@Metal-Brain saidYou just count the rings.
@vivify
What evidence was used to prove Gertie is really that old?