How to determine the age of laying hens: the formation of a productive house

In the backyard household, the poultry house can become an excellent source of profit, so the owners try their best to increase the productivity of their birds. To do this, you need to properly select the breed, properly equip the chicken coop, provide the livestock with quality fodder. However, it is worthwhile to know how to determine the age of laying hens to ensure the most effective rejuvenation of the livestock.

Periods of the most active egg production in chicken

Since the productivity of poultry directly depends on the age, the far-sighted master should understand how to determine the age of laying hens if there is a desire to receive a sufficient number of eggs. In addition, meat is also of interest - chickens trade in breeding farms. Sometimes it is possible to combine all the directions, although this requires a more careful approach to the selection of the bird breed.

The most productive period in the life of a hen is the second half of the first year of life, but at that time the eggs will be shallow. But in the second year of life it is possible to obtain from a bird a larger and high-quality product. It is believed that in the third year it is necessary to change the number of livestock, although sufficient egg production remains. Leave in the hen-house a bird older than three years is unprofitable, the exception are the deserved hens, able to sit and bring up the young.

Signs of a chicken-molodka

Youngsters are the chickens that are about to begin to sweep. The age of such a bird is from four to six months. Some specially prepared egg crosses with good care begin to give eggs at the age of 5-5.5 months.

Many when buying youngsters are concerned about the question of how to determine the age of a laying hen on a scallop. It should be noted that if the seller does not allow the buyer to touch and carefully inspect the bird, then this is one of the signs of a fraudster: he sells "pensioners" who by definition will not become champions in egg production, and they are no longer suitable for soup.

The young chicken has a relatively small and bright scallop, not pale. It should be touched: it must be warm and elastic, in no way cold or flabby.

How to determine the age of a laying hen in terms of productivity

This parameter is difficult to determine with accuracy, but a couple of months does not matter. In the early spring it is impossible to buy young chickens - this is at best the so-called pereirki, age - about a year and a half. But very few people sell productive birds after winter, when a relatively economical feed period begins. Consequently, the seller tries to get rid of the aging animals.

There are several simple techniques for determining the age of laying hens. The young bird will have a warm elastic red comb, clear clear eyes, a smooth yellowish beak, in no way gray. The skin on the paws should be yellow, clean, there should be even and not breaking off claws and rather gentle heels without cracks and calluses. A good layer has a large and soft belly, from a keel to a womb the distance is three to four fingers. The rigid tip of the keel indicates a venerable age, in a young bird it is gristly, soft.

Nesushka and poultry - different categories of birds

As already mentioned above, it is justified to leave the aging bird only if it shows outstanding talents of the hen. Many beginners believe that all layers can take chickens by default, but this does not correspond to the truth. The egg crosses were derived for the sake of high productivity, and the maternal instinct in them is more likely an accident than the rule. However, if one understands how to determine the age of a laying hen, qualitative selection of birds can be carried out.

Methods of rejuvenation of the house

There are several economically viable ways to maintain good poultry productivity. This requires regular rejuvenation of livestock. The optimal age of culling for a hen is 2-2.5 years, the bird, which was slaughtered at this age, belongs to the soup category and is quite edible.

In the spring, it is necessary to purchase repair young, chickens or poultry, then in the fall they will begin to sweep, and the rejected chickens will go to meat. When buying a knowledge of how to determine the age of laying hens will come in handy.

You can not buy young animals, but use your own reproduction. Then you need to keep for every ten or one and a half chickens one cock. The presence of several good hens in the poultry house will make the incubator unnecessary.

Is there a separate method for determining the age of the laying hen? In fact, for all breeds the rules are the same, but it is better to choose a bird of egg crosses purposefully. Paying close attention to the quality of the number of birds, it is possible to achieve excellent results, and the age of laying hens plays an important role here.