For
over 4,000 years the chickens live next to humans by providing their eggs and
meat. In villages and towns of the past,
the day always began with the characteristic crow of the rooster, the
particular distinctive sound we
have connected with sunrise.
Nowadays, chickens are literally making a comeback in our lives. In the United Kingdom for example, more and more families have created a small space in their yard and they breed chickens that they have as pets. It may seem strange or funny, but it is a reality.
These are the chickens we keep
and breed as domestic animals, whether for their meat or their
fresh eggs and their beautiful companionship. Their lifespan depends on their
living conditions, their protection from diseases and predators, as well as the
adaptability of the breed to the breeding area. These chickens may be of a
purebred breed with an emphasis on spawning, rapid weight gain, or a
combination of both. Finally, they may be native chickens, rural, than those we
maybe have asked of someone who has chickens in our area.
In the first year of chickens
life a usual egg yield is about 60%, which means that for every 5 chickens you
can collect 3 eggs a day. By saying daily, we count only 9-10 months of the
year (spring, summer and autumn), because during winter most chickens stop
producing eggs. For female chickens, daylight exposure is one of the most
important factors in egg production and in addition they can produce eggs
without the presence of a rooster. Rooster is only necessary if you grow
chickens for their meat. In this case, you need a rooster to get fertile eggs
from which newborn chickens will emerge and of course you will also need
fertile female chickens.
In excellent conditions
chickens can live 5-7 years, often even
more. Some records say that chickens can live near 10 years, but it is
difficult for a chicken to be lucky to die from natural causes at this age.
Even the most productive female chickens, after 3 years will spawn very few
eggs. From this age onwards, they live in the chicken coop as retired, enjoying
carving and dust baths in our yard, or become part of our diet.