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Post by linnmarrlofts on Feb 7, 2006 4:09:24 GMT
Hey I feel like I am the only one posting here? Anyway... Here's my next dumb question... I just built a new loft. Now I am working on the inside of it. If I put 18 nest boxes in a section, Then how many birds should I put in that section? Do you guys pair everything, or do you let your stock birds pair them self's? Do you let the cock claim their own nest boxes, And then put your hens that you want to pair with them in the boxes, and lock them in the box? how long do you leave them in the box before you let them out? AND... any other info. you Pros think I should know. GEE I guess thats more then just one dumb question ...HUH your replies are always, soooo much appreciated. Thanks Gary ;D
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Post by joe90 on Feb 7, 2006 13:00:23 GMT
ITS DOWN TO THE SIZE OF THE LOFT, IF YOU HAVE 18 NEST BOXES THEN YOU COULD GET AWAY WITH 18 PAIRS OF BIRDS.
ITS HARD WORK LOCKING THEM IN ETC ETC GETTING THEM TO PAIR TO HOW YOU WANT THEM TO.
IF YOU DONT MIND WHO PAIRS TO WHO THEN LEAVE THEM TO PAIR AT THEIR OWN WILL
JUST GIVE THEM SOME STRAW AND A NEST PAN
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hooky
Back Garden Flyer
Posts: 45
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Post by hooky on Feb 7, 2006 23:29:06 GMT
if these are your breeders then definatly you choose whta gets mated with what.i always lock mine down in boxed and never let the birds choose there mate.one section of my loft is just all boxes and has no birds kept in itwhen breeding season comes around i go about and select the first 16 cocks i will be breeding from.normally this is my sprint birds then place them in boxes.next day i do the same with the hens
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Post by linnmarrlofts on Feb 7, 2006 23:57:05 GMT
HI all
Thanks guys for your answers... How long do you leave the cock and hen locked up in the box? until they have laid eggs?
I take it from your reply "Hooky" that you decided what box you will put the pair into... So do they go back to that box, OK once you start letting them out?
Thanks
Gary
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hooky
Back Garden Flyer
Posts: 45
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Post by hooky on Feb 8, 2006 8:33:52 GMT
mate when i breed i leave them locked in until the young are ready to leave the nest..that way is the safest as some cock birds can go in wrong box and fight and scalp youngers and all sorts of things plus if they do not lay all at once you may get one randy cock that will knock another cock of hen and jump on himself if they are all out together.if you have to let them out together wait until all eggs are laid and let two pair out each day.other wise if you let the lot out at once they will be confused wich box is theres,and is a big mistake resulting in scalped birds smashed eggs ect.i decide what box they go in and it don't really matter. i leave them in box for 12 days then i add the nest bowl.most go down straight away.....
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Post by darloflyer on Feb 11, 2006 19:20:44 GMT
Thats just wrong leaving them locked up for that long..
i keep all the cocks in the breeding loft over winter and let them fight it out among themselfs for the best boxs only takes aday or 2. then i start feeding the cocks in there box so that they bond with the box. when it comings to pairing time i lock all the cocks in there boxs and just let them out one at a time with the hen i have choose for them once they have paired i lock that pair in there box and start over again with the next pair this way i don't get any scalping of the hens......if i can't get a pair to take to each other i lock them in the empty yb loft together for a day or 2 they always take to each other when they are on there own
p.s i've never had any problem with cocks going into the wrong box this way
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hooky
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Posts: 45
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Post by hooky on Feb 11, 2006 23:15:03 GMT
Wrong by who's standard?
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Post by darloflyer on Feb 12, 2006 12:20:36 GMT
anybodys how big are your boxs and how long are they locked in them
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