Beards grow about 5" per year, doesn't matter about age.. For whatever reason, as the beard first grows out of the sheath as a jake there isn't as much melanin put into it. My theory is that it is more useful in feather production at that point. The lack of melanin causes the amber tint, and as more melanin is added to beard growth as the turkey gets older it turns the nice shiny black color. Since they grow 5ish" a year, a 2 year old will still have some amber left in his tips.