roundabout

thinking about putting hens in boxes nxt year but hate the thought of them stuck in them, anybody got any experience of how they do in boxes, basically trying to stop them pairing and keeping them going, tried a few things already but not happy with results

I'm like u redrog I don't like the thought of them being locked up all day, but I've had problems this year with them all pairing up

Boosey wrote:

I'm like u redrog I don't like the thought of them being locked up all day, but I've had problems this year with them all pairing up

you thinking of changing things or lumping it, problem starts after 3 race so bit early this year

keep your hens in training and work them hard

markevans wrote:

keep your hens in training and work them hard

Hard is that around the loft Ray or in the basket etc as a side note I just happen to have 45 old hens in a loft on their own here to race & they are not interested in mating up as such & are just happy to put their energy into burning the sky's up when out flying etc .

are you racing the hens redrog...? if so I agree with mark and think if they are worked regulary and exercised and trained they wont be too keen on pairing, plus don't give them any encouragement with nice places to lay and pair up....when we raced widowhood, we kept the hens out in the aviary during the day on roofing lats as perches which seemed to stop them pairing up quite a lot.

I have grills down and v-perches with boards between hens were fed light and trained once per week they still paired after a few weeks ,I was advised by a very good racer of hens to box them and train them once per week and to also show hens to cocks midweek after return from a toss but personally I hate boxing hens I think its cruel to confine in such a small space for long periods no quality of life as such for the bird

Our roundabout hens are not locked up but we do have large mesh on the floor to stop them pairing up on the floor.we have v perches with devices between them which also helps them nor seeing each other..widowhood hens are constantly locked up but with floor grills on each box .they get let on on Fridays for a bath and a bit exercise as well

thanks for that lads, seem to do better with the hens early on and later the cocks, the mesh I am thinking of trying again first time round was just pain in the arse for cleaning and feeding but definite stops em pairing. had a look at boxes from red star and they look better than last ones I looked at, still not sold on them tho

suppose the only fool proof way of stopping the hens pairing is to have them in boxes, but like Darren, I don't like the idea.....

too much messing with roundabout had better results on natural than roundabout ...its not for me ,hens and cocks going awol and returning when the other sex is out and about it breaks the magic ruins the motivation/game. with local lofts exercising their birds within sight of my own theirs not a lot you can do so its back to natural or widow for me next year