Pairing Up...

anyone got any idea when they will be pairing up...I usually pair around the first Saturday in feb, but hoping to pair a couple of weeks earlier if my loft is ready.............

Not yet for me dave I would love to pair and have early young birds and get the racers cieaned up the problem is can't get them out when the nights are dark same problem for most one or two have paired up around here

end of January for us

We're toying with the idea of pairing up around Xmas or just after, just a thought at the minute though, still not sure of what to do yet

first week jan, going to try and take as many from new cocks with different hens...... that's the plan anyway

I`m trying to time it so the ybs go onto darkness when the clocks alter, I usually miss it and don't quite give the the right amount of time before taking them off it........I think 2 weeks earlier then normal should do it....

We where going to over Xmas but that's all changed now so probably January now

We where going to over Xmas but that's all changed now so probably January now

We would like to pair up by the 3rd week of December.

Phil

going to vaccinate ours this weekend then treat for the main 3 ready for end of January

This weekend for me. 12 pairs stock birds. Cannot let the young out too soon, snow they get snow blind plus hawks around. Strong on the wing when they do go out but not usually a problem. The are out in an aviary most of the time. Besides, time last young bird races are on hand they have fully moulted.

halcanada wrote:

This weekend for me. 12 pairs stock birds. Cannot let the young out too soon, snow they get snow blind plus hawks around. Strong on the wing when they do go out but not usually a problem. The are out in an aviary most of the time. Besides, time last young bird races are on hand they have fully moulted.

When do you get 2017 rings Hal?

Phil

Jan 2nd usually.

halcanada wrote:

Jan 2nd usually.

In that case won't your new babies be too old/big to get rings on them by Jan 2nd?

Phil

im not sure when our rings arrive, but I suppose if I pair the back end of January I should be ok........

got me some coconut fibre nest felts they arrived today from pallatts great prompt service great nest felts better than the synthetic ones where the fibres come loose I lost a yb last year due to these the fibres got caught in the squabs throat so beware of them lads

oldstrain wrote:

got me some coconut fibre nest felts they arrived today from pallatts great prompt service great nest felts better than the synthetic ones where the fibres come loose I lost a yb last year due to these the fibres got caught in the squabs throat so beware of them lads

Exactly which nest felt did you get Darren?

Phil

coconut fibre nest felts from pallatts phil theirs a link on the home page ...I am going to wrap the bowls in a sheet of newspaper (financial times of course )and then add a sprinkle of diatoms then add the felt I allways spray the bowl too with a permetherin spray for lice just to keep the nasties away...probably over the top but I like to make sure they have a good start

Phil. Usually works this way. Mate Dec 1st. Eggs 10th, hatch 28/29th. Jan 2 4 days old. Earlier I just use spray on the leg. Pam, veggie oil.

halcanada wrote:

Phil. Usually works this way. Mate Dec 1st. Eggs 10th, hatch 28/29th. Jan 2 4 days old. Earlier I just use spray on the leg. Pam, veggie oil.

Thanks Hal

Nicely explained.

I trust you will have a great first hatch.

Phil

Creek for nesting material.
Phil. If you figure mating to weaning two months, usually right.

I bet the birds love carrying Theo's twigs back and forth

Yes they would if they were out. However, got a bunch when I walked the dogs and put the grass in the loft. Then 12 hens. All are broke and most raced so once on eggs, weather permitting will let them out. Aviary for now. Pick there own mates.

when dose your racing season commence hal and do you race ybs with old birds in Canada or separately like we do here

Start May 1st, weather permitting. 10 weeks, old birds. Then young birds, 8 or 9 weeks.