Double D
118 posts
Feb 06, 2006
1:13 PM
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You guys ever seen a cock who won't sit the eggs? What usually happens? Will the hen take over full-time? I've got one young cock that doesn't seem to want to sit the eggs. Would you continue to breed from such a cock? Any suggestions?
Darin
Last Edited by Double D on Feb 06, 2006 1:20 PM
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Shaun
272 posts
Feb 06, 2006
2:26 PM
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Darin, my horniest cock was just the same. He much preferred to chase all the hens whilst his own hen sat the eggs. However, in time he settled down and became a superb parent. He even shoves the hen off the eggs when it's his turn to sit.
Shauhn
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motherlodelofts
586 posts
Feb 06, 2006
3:15 PM
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Darin sometimes it is due to one of the birds not wanting to give up the nest.
I have a cock here that does that, he won't let the hen sit until he has no choice but to get off, he takes care of business and then re takes the nest back , as the season wears on he quits being so selfish with it LOL.
Scott
Last Edited by motherlodelofts on Feb 06, 2006 3:16 PM
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fhtfire
328 posts
Feb 06, 2006
6:59 PM
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Darrin,
I had a cock just like Scott. He would not let the hen sit when the eggs were getting close to hatching. He would kick her out of the nest and she would be feak'n out when it was getting dark. They would pretty much fight to sit. So I would pull the cock and put him in a kit box over night and let the hen sit and in the morning, I would pull him and put him back in the breeder loft. After about two days of that..he got the point..LOL
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Phantom1
119 posts
Feb 06, 2006
7:07 PM
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Darin,
Are you breeding individual? If not, are there any stray hens lurking in the community loft? If there aren't any strays, are there any hens that aren't currently sitting on eggs? Those would be some of the culprits I could think of. If none of these come into play, then I would definitely recommend individual breeding them. If the problem consists, and you honestly believe the offspring are worth the effort, then I'd suggest fostering the eggs.
Yours in the hobby,
Eric
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Double D
119 posts
Feb 07, 2006
1:03 PM
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My breeders are in individual breeding cages with no unpaired birds in sight. Part of my issue with this bird is I feel he has the potential to be my foundation cock so I'm kind of disappointed in what he's doing.
Darin
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Phantom1
122 posts
Feb 07, 2006
1:49 PM
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Darin,
If he's a young bird, that may just be part of him maturing. In the interim, I'd personally move forward with fostering the eggs out. Until he gets his act together.
Eric
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siddiqir
130 posts
Feb 07, 2006
1:50 PM
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I think this is normal. Hens usually end up with full time job. Cocks hang out and do less sitting. I would let it go the way it is. If you get healthy youngsters and cock feed them do not worry to much about it. They know what they doing.
Last Edited by siddiqir on Feb 07, 2006 1:58 PM
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Double D
120 posts
Feb 07, 2006
5:18 PM
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Actually, it looks like he may be coming out of it on his own. I came home tonight and he was sitting on the eggs. In any event, I have 7 pairs on 13 eggs all doing their thing. I have one pair that only laid one egg but it was the first egg laid after only 5 days paired up. I checked the egg last night and I could see the blood vessels so I believe it's fertile and I guess since everyone else laid two eggs I'll let this pair raise the one fertile egg they have and hope they lay two the next round. Thanks again guys for all the input, it helps a ton.
Darin
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Velo99
208 posts
Feb 07, 2006
5:28 PM
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I have a cock that is meaner than shit til his hen lays the first clutch. He will go to the other nests and roll out the eggs and destroy a nest. I keep him locked down every year til then. Soon as the first eggs come he is good to go just as nice and sweet.Does his shift. All the cool stuff.
YITS
KENNY
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