recieved my two ybs from ian for the exchange thursday, i puts his ybs straight onto the dark from weaning and when i looked at the cock it had started to show signs of moulting already around the chest and along the side of the wing near the bar......

the thing is i havnt got them or my own on the dark yet but ians exchange birds are still showing signs of continuing to moult, which makes me wonder that if we start the premature moult by simulating winter hours do we need to keep them on it for 11 - 12 weeks or so.........? can we just start them off moulting and then keep the loft open as normal and they will continue to moult....?

david those are very interesting questions, If a youngster has started to moult will it continue even if taken off darkness, I would like to kow that too.

hi martyn, yes i went into yb section today and there was quite a few small feathers in the drinker with others around the loft floor.......looking at the young cock hes still showing signs of moulting and there is even the new small feathers growing on the side of his wings.

ive never had dark ybs before so its interesting to see this happening.........

At the moment the young birds are on natural darkness 12 hours day light 12 hours darkness, my own young birds are beginning to moult in the body, i only put mine on darkness when the clock goes forward to compensate for the longer days, just my way and opinion I then take them off on the longest day
Ken

i thought dark young had only 8 hours of light not 12,thats what i was told so this is new to me

Hi Ray, u can have the hours you want what u are happy with, all i am saying at the momment they have been on natural darkness, the days have really only just started getting longer, this is why early bred younguns start to go into body moult before you place them onto the darkness system
Ken

i was planning on opening at 8 oclock and closing at 4 oclock........as this is roughly the hours of light in winter.

That would be fine david
Ken

thanks ken, will stick to this then and see what happens.............

everyones on darkness...

sorting y/b section for darkness this weekend

think ive got my method of darkening sorted now, will see what ken thinks when he comes to mine this sunday..............

more reads ups for us then