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The Original All Roller Talk Discussion Board Archive >
Eggs Already?!!!
Eggs Already?!!!
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Double D
115 posts
Feb 02, 2006
7:29 PM
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As I already posted, I put the pairs together last Saturday. Today, one of the hens already dropped her first egg, only 6 days after pairing her up. I didn't think they could lay eggs for 10 days after mating. I also understand that the first round has a much lower hatch rate. Do you guys typically throw your first round of eggs away from each pair? Is your experience that hatch rates are considerably lower on the first round? Is it common for hens to lay fertile eggs earlier than 10 days after mating? As always, thanks in advance for your responses. I learn a ton from all you guys!
Darin
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washington86
24 posts
Feb 02, 2006
10:16 PM
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i'll keep the egg and let them feritlize it. you shoudl see the dark thing in there about 1 week, if not. then its history. i usually let my pigeon takes care of it becasue they're have more experience in becoming parents
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Shaun
265 posts
Feb 03, 2006
12:00 AM
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Darin, I haven't see eggs less that 10 days after mating, but I have definitely seen in mentioned in writings. The thing which took me some time to realise is that the courting routine is often sufficient for the hen to generate eggs - which is why two hens can pair up and produce four unfertile eggs. With my young Masons, I observed much pairing up and many eggs, but few were fertile. That, I'm pretty sure was down to their young age (4 - 7 months). The same birds right now, in the dead of a sub-zero winter have finally given me young rollers. So, it has taken months to get this far. Looking back, the only thing I would do is what has been suggested here: don't do as I did and wait for at least 18 days, to then find the eggs still liquid inside - get your torch out after the eggs have been laid for a good few days, then look for the veins inside. If they're not there, you might as well toss the eggs and start again. However, the same warning applies: that would only mean the same pair would lay again sometime, but it doesn't mean they'll be fertile.
One other thing, if you're keen to get the conveyor belt going, watch out for one egg hatching and the other not. Again, I left the second egg too long, which meant the parents didn't try mating for the second round, whilst they were still sitting the second egg. Some will abandon it once the 'due date' has gone; others will sit on it until it's hard boiled! I actually much prefer the latter because if you're going to foster eggs and the timing between the respective pairs is out by a couple of days, you don't want fosters who will abandon the eggs once 18 days is up - you want them to stay there until they hatch, say, two days later.
If a squab hatches on its own now, I'm ready to do the worst to the remaining egg a couple of days later. I have had eggs hatch two days apart, but no more than that. It's then touch and go as to whether the second youngster will catch up. You see two squabs at wildly different sizes and you wonder if the little one will make it. Sometimes the parents, if a bird hatches late, will immediately toss it out of the nest to die. I've also cracked open eggs which hadn't hatched and found a perfectly formed squab inside, which must have died very close to hatching time.
As for the first round being less successful than the second, I've not noticed that. Indeed, the second round has been the problem. In theory, the pair should mate roughly when the squabs from the first round are about four days old. Again, in theory, you should, therefore, have second round eggs when the squabs are around a fortnight old. Again, perhaps it's because mine are still quite young, but I've found the second round elusive. The cock struts his stuff, but the hen won't bend over. They remain paired up, but no second round eggs. It really is very slow progress.
Shaun
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Double D
116 posts
Feb 03, 2006
7:44 PM
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I came home from work to find 4 more pairs had laid eggs for a total of 5 pairs with eggs now. I have two other pairs that have yet to lay. I'm really looking forward to having birds to fly finally. I guess I better get started on building those kit boxes, LOL! Thanks for the responses guys!
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upcd
139 posts
Feb 05, 2006
1:04 AM
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In 3 weeks I should have 10-2006 out of the nest. The buyers are alright lined up. When I was at the National I sold of of late 2005. Many of my other breeds are on there way too.
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