One of the most common areas of the agricultural sector is raising chickens with the aim of obtaining eggs. However, the profitability of this type of activity depends on many factors that farmers must consider. The most important aspect is the choice of a good breed of poultry with high egg production. To date, breeders have bred a huge number of species of chickens with different characteristics. To choose the most suitable one, you need to have an idea of how many years the chicken carries well, as well as what factors determine its productivity. All these aspects will be considered in this article.
At what age do chickens begin to rush?
So what do you need to know about this? In wild conditions, egg laying in birds starts from six months of age, however, thanks to numerous experiments, breeders managed to breed special breeds in which puberty occurs in 4-5 months. Among the most famous are the following:
- Leghorn.
- Broken brown.
- Dominant
- Tetra.
- Minorca.
In one year they give about 200-300 eggs. However, here many beginning farmers will have a completely logical question of how many years the hens are carried. It is very difficult to answer it unequivocally, since everything here depends on a number of criteria. They will be discussed in more detail below.
What does egg laying depend on?
Let's dwell on this in more detail. So, how many years do hens rush at home? According to statistics, the average bird productivity is from 7 to 10 years. But, as mentioned earlier, it all depends on a number of factors. The key ones are:
- features of a particular breed;
- food quality;
- conditions of detention;
- the presence of parasites and any diseases;
- stresses.
The presence of any of the above factors may slow down the onset of oviposition. In addition, when answering the question of how many years chickens live and rush, it should be noted that birds lay about 40 percent of the energy received from food on laying eggs, so it is very important to provide them with a high-quality, full-fledged and balanced diet, so that chickens get everything vitally important vitamins, minerals and nutrients.
How many days in a year does egg laying last?
What you need to know about this? This issue is no less important, like the one how many years the hens rush, since productivity directly affects the return on business and profitability. It largely affects what breed the bird belongs to. For example, oviparous can bring up to 300 eggs per year, while in meat this indicator is almost 3 times lower. A similar difference is due to the fact that the former rush throughout the year, and the last every 2-3 days. However, it is important to understand that it is very difficult to achieve such indicators at home. The industrial process is strictly adhered to, and there is also all the necessary equipment and qualified specialists.
Duration of egg-laying ability
So, in fact, we came to the answer to one of the most important questions regarding the cultivation of poultry, namely, how many years the hens are carried. According to experts, the animals have a large supply of eggs, which will more than last for more than 10 years. However, in practice, not everything turns out as many expect. The thing is that the life expectancy of chickens in practice is only 2-5 years. During this period, the productivity of individuals decreases significantly, and the meat is very coarse, so the vast majority of farmers completely change the livestock 3-4 years after its breeding.
The most productive breeds
Most beginner poultry breeders, who are interested in how many years laying hens rush at home, are very careful in choosing feeds and creating everything necessary for keeping a bird. However, they do not pay enough attention to the selection of specific breeds, which is a very big mistake. They try to reduce the initial investment in launching the farm, therefore, as a rule, they purchase not very productive chickens. Experts say that the best breeds are:
- Leghorn.
- Tetra.
- Minorca.
- Oryol.
- Plymouth Rock.
- Rhode Island.
The first three belong to the group of oviparous and give the largest number of eggs. On average, for every 12 months you can get about 250-300 pieces. However, it is important to consider that every year the indicator will decrease by about 15 percent, even with strict adherence to all breeding technology. As for the last three breeds, they are meat and egg. They are appreciated for their versatility, because they give not only a lot of eggs, but also quickly gain weight. In addition, the advantage of these chickens is that their productivity practically does not decrease for several years until they are slaughtered for meat.
Poultry rejection
Let's dwell on this aspect in more detail. Above it was described in detail about how many years laying hens are carried, as well as what factors affect egg production. But there is one more important nuance to which attention should be paid, deciding to engage in agricultural farming. It's about culling the bird. If the chicken begins to give few eggs, then its content becomes unprofitable, so the bird is sent for slaughter. Distinguishing between good and bad hens is quite simple. To do this, you just need to watch your wards every day. Pay attention to the following:
- appearance;
- completeness;
- masonry time.
A weighty basis for rejection are such signs and changes:
- dirty plumage, which is evidence of an infectious disease;
- curved keel;
- bald patches arising from a lack of vitamins and minerals;
- severe deficiency or, conversely, an excess of body weight;
- lethargic state;
- egg laying at different times of the day.
Any of the above signs indicates the presence of any problems in the bird. How old are the domestic hens in this case? You should not count on long-term productivity, since poultry has low resistance to various diseases and parasites, so when they occur, it not only begins to produce fewer eggs, but can also die quickly. In this case, it is recommended to immediately kill sick individuals. Otherwise, there is a high likelihood of an epidemic and the death of the entire population, and, as everyone knows, contaminated products cannot be eaten.
Recommendations for increasing egg production
You already know how many years hens of different breeds are racing. But if you want to get the maximum possible income from your farm, this is not enough. In order for the egg production to be high and not to decrease much as the birds age, some measures must be taken. Experts recommend observing the following rules:
- in the cold season, when the duration of free-range poultry is reduced, it is necessary to equip artificial lighting in the chicken coop;
- the house should be well insulated, because drafts not only negatively affect productivity, but can also cause the development of various diseases;
- to increase the energy value of the feed, yeast should be added to it.
Farmers should pay particular attention to the quality of their food. Egg production is highly dependent on the amount of protein, vitamins and minerals consumed, so the diet of the bird should be balanced. Do not save on feed and buy cheap low-quality mixtures.
Hens broken brown
This breed is most popular among farmers around the world. This is due to the fact that it has many advantages, among which the main ones are the following:
- rapid puberty;
- unpretentiousness to the conditions of detention and feed;
- high egg production;
- eggs of large size and weight.
In addition to all of the above, the bird perfectly adapts to any climatic conditions, so you can breed it throughout the territory of our country. A distinctive feature of the breed is its high productivity. Despite the small body weight, puberty of individuals occurs at the sixth month of life. One bird is capable of producing up to 320 eggs per year, each of which weighs about 60-65 grams, which today is the maximum figure. The maximum productivity is observed at 3-4 months after puberty, after which it begins to gradually decrease. How old are the broken brown hens? As in the case of other breeds, it all depends on the conditions of detention and the quality of feeding. According to experts, the bird stably brings a large number of eggs for 4-5 years.
Farmer Poultry Reviews
Breeding chickens for the purpose of obtaining eggs is a highly cost-effective activity in which you can earn stable and good money. But, when planning the opening of his own farm, it is necessary to determine in advance the format of its work and the choice of a specific breed. If you are going to sell eggs, then you should immediately buy a bird that has maximum egg production. In the case of breeding in order to provide your family with food, it is better to stop on meat and egg chickens.
Conclusion
For whatever purpose you bred chickens, do not forget that they need constant care. Failure to comply with temperature conditions, insufficient daylight hours, poor feed quality and many other factors can significantly reduce bird productivity. Therefore, if you do not want to throw money away, think and work out all aspects in advance. Only a serious approach will allow you to get the most out of the farm, whether it be money, eggs or meat. Provide proper care to your chickens, and they will thank you in full.