Breeding chickens every day is becoming increasingly popular. To consider such an economy can be both as earnings, and as a source of fresh meat and eggs. Novice poultry farmers, as a rule, try to acquire grown-up chickens, as it will take time, knowledge and additional efforts to grow chickens. Today we will find out for what you need to know the age of the layers, as well as how to correctly determine it yourself.
Why determine the age of the bird
It turns out that the age of the hen is of great importance and is directly proportional to its egg production. The fact is that chickens are well born from the beginning of the productive age and for a maximum of 3 years. 
Then the number of eggs laid by the bird gradually decreases, and by the age of 5 it stops altering at all. For this reason, knowing the age of birds is extremely necessary.
Important! Practically all chickens that are distinguished by high egg production are of miniature size, therefore the widespread opinion that the smaller the layer, the younger it is, erroneously. In addition to the dimensions, many other factors should be considered.
Determination by external indicators
The good news is that even with no experience, you can approximately determine how old a chicken is. To do this, we suggest to get acquainted in more detail with the way how this can be done and what should be paid attention to when buying a bird.
Scallop condition
During the inspection of the hen it is necessary not only to examine its scallop closely, but also to touch it. If its color is bright and saturated, and it is warm to the touch, it means that the hen is young and actively carried.
We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the decorative, fighting, meat, egg and egg breeds of chickens.
But if it is faded and cold, then this is a signal that its owner is no longer young and you should not expect high performance from it. 
This is because the chicken circulation is disturbed as it gets older and because of this its scallop gets cold.
Important! With age, these birds become sluggish and move a little. The easiest way to check the activity of chickens is to fill them with food. The most hungry and arrogant in this case will be the youngest.
Beak condition
This part of the body also can not be overlooked in determining the age of the feathered. For young individuals is characterized by a smooth, light with yellow beak. In more mature chickens, cracks and bumps appear on the beak, and its color becomes grayish. 
Foot condition
The yellow, evenly colored paws of the layer indicate that she is young. Over the years, they have become coarser and overgrown with slants, and also noticeably dull.
Plus, with age, large scales appear on the legs of chickens, which are not tightly attached to each other and are completely unattractive in appearance.
Very long and stratified claws are also an indication that the chicken is not young, since under the age of 12 months they will certainly be even and smooth. 
Read also what vitamins to give chickens to increase egg production.
Plumage condition
In a young laying hen, feathers are arranged tightly and are distinguished by brilliance and purity, and under them a down must be looked through. Dull plumage with hairline is a clear indication that its owner is no longer young.
Did you know? In order to find out the weather for tomorrow, it is enough to watch the rooster in the evening and listen to his crowing. If he started singing as soon as the sun went down, then you should expect changes in the weather. If he prints his little song after 21:00, then it will rain tomorrow, and if it sounds like a crow! sounds after 22:00, then wait for a beautiful clear day.
Palpation of the abdomen
You can also feel the belly of the hen: if you feel hard lumps of fat, you should refuse to buy the bird, because its presence is a clear indication that it took more than one year to accumulate.
In young animals the abdomen will be soft, without signs of obesity and any seals.
Determination by weight
This criterion is quite subjective. On the one hand, there is common sense that the smaller the mass of the chicken, the younger it is. But here you should definitely understand the rocks in order to know what indicators are characteristic of a particular age. 
On average, an egg-type chicken should weigh 1.5 kg in half a year, and the weight of the meat-egg individual can reach up to 3 kg by this time.
Read also how to build a chicken coop and roost for chickens with their own hands.
Technological determination
With how approximately determine the age of chickens tactile and visually, we figured out. But there are other methods that can be used, namely technological.
They are based on observing and determining the quality of eggs, so it’s impossible to apply them while buying chickens, but they can come to the aid of those who keep a large number of poultry.
Did you know? There are people who are panicked at the sight of chickens or chickens, and this qualifies as a disease called electrophobia. Some associate its appearance with the fact that the number of these birds on the planet significantly exceeds the number of people: for 1 person there are 3 hens.
Egg production tracking
For ease of use of this method, you can draw a graph and enter data about when birds lay eggs. In order to get a visual picture, it is desirable to observe within 7-14 days, and then compare the results with the following information:
- A young layer at the age of 5-6 months brings 1 egg every 7 days.
- Egg production rises to 6-7 months, and the chicken is able to lay 3 eggs a week.
- The peak of bird productivity is considered to be the period from 8 to 12 months - at this age they are capable of bringing 5-6 eggs every 7 days.
So with the help of short observations, you can determine the approximate age of the hens.It will be useful for you to learn how to properly use an ovoscope, how to grow chickens in an incubator, why chickens do not carry or peck eggs, and why chickens cannot be kept in cages.
Egg quality
But not only by quantity, but also by the quality of eggs, you can determine the age of the hen. First of all, you need to pay attention to their size, since it is common for small chickens to bring small eggs.
At the same time, despite the small size, these eggs have a very strong shell, as well as a large yolk.
Another distinctive feature of eggs that have been torn down by pullets is the rich orange color and thicker consistency of the yolk. 
Accordingly, if the eggs are large, the shell cracks easily when pressed, and the yolk is liquid and has a pale yellow color, then the chicken that laid it is already old.
Did you know? It is believed that chickens are the only existing descendants of tyrannosaurs. The opinion is based on external similarity, the ability to navigate in space, run fast, and also because of good vision and the ability to choose tactics for attack in chickens.
Now you know why you need to be able to determine the age of the hen. Of course, it is necessary to take into account that it is impossible to determine the exact date of birth: whatever method you use, there is a probability of an error in the calculations, and it can be from 3 to 6 months.
