A Question of Time

[ccs88]

I have a somewhat confusing question for discussion.

One of Thorin's company, Balin, was born in the Third Age (2763), making him 7 years old when Smaug took over the mountain in the Third Age (2770), and Bilbo begins his journey in The Shire in the Third Age (2941).

Are these Valian years (52560 days long), or "normal" years (365 days long)?

I'm trying to figure out of Balin was 178 in The Hobbit, or, much, much older.

 

[Starbrow]

The Third Age years are normal 365-day years. I believe that they only used Valarian years were only used in the First Age.