layers

[hdchicken]

What signs do i look for other than egg production when a chicken has reached maximun production age? someone said their legs start turnning whiter??????

 

[Fred's Hens]

This depends on so many factors, but with many modern strains, they lay super well for the first two years, then, go into a decline that continues through life. Individual hens will vary. If your hen is two years old, is losing color in her legs, she has quite likely beginning to her long decline.

With some strains, bred specifically for early and heavy lay, year three will show a rather dramatic drop off of production.

 

[hdchicken]

Thanks

 

[hdchicken]

When i got them i did not know the age and someone told me about the leg trick...i thought he was messing around with me.

 

[AKsmama]

Nope, he was right. . . it's called bleaching sequence. Gail Damerow explains it well in Storey's Guide To Raising Chickens.