Santandercol
266 posts
Aug 21, 2006
9:58 PM
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Hey List,
I'm wondering how many folks put their breeders together again after they finish moulting,and how the young born that late would develop.Does anyone actually breed their birds that late in the year,or is it better just to wait till January,February to start breeding again?----------
Kelly
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J_Star
569 posts
Aug 22, 2006
5:02 AM
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I would rather wait until March to breed them in Northeast Ohio. For one, to give them a break, second, the young will freeze during the winter breeding and third, to avoid hawk problems. The folks in CA have different weather and different set of problems, maybe they can elaborate more from their side.
Jay
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Opinionated Blowhard
66 posts
Aug 22, 2006
2:17 PM
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I dont know why you would want to breed that time of year. If you are retired or unemployed in the winter I guess you would have enuf time to train young birds in the short days of December or January. But the hawks will get most of them anyway. Better to follow natures way and begin breeding again in the spring. Its also tuff to feed young birds properly in cold winter weather. Fewer of them turn out to be any good. If you are breeding just to produce young birds that you wont fly but will save for breeding then maybe it makes some sense. Kevin
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
694 posts
Aug 22, 2006
2:59 PM
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As was noted above, many people have to establish a "work-around" in terms of breeding and flying young.
Personally I don't like to breed in the summer and fall for two reasons. One is that here it is 95-105 every day and experience has taught me that the breeders don't produce as well in that heat, as well as it being stressful for both the parents and young, especially on those super hot days.
Then there is the molt to contend with which is another stressful period.
I put my pairs together at the beginning of December here which means I have my first round on the roof by sometime in February. I stop breeding and break the pairs up in June. By then I've banded 150 or so young and the breeders are need of a break.
I only have bad cooper problems here in the fall. From Dec-March it becomes a battle with usually just one or two adults who usually only become a problem in spurts. I lose some to them, but maybe only a dozen or so. The falcon is worse but by the time the first young kit is truly on the wing, the attacks have started to dimenish.
Overall I have noticed one thing that stands out and that is that here the best young ones come from those raised during the cold of winter and spring. I don't know why, but that is just how it ends up here. Seldom have birds I raised during the summer months ever worked out. I don't know why, that is just the way it appears to have played out here. Which is another reason I simply quit breeding when it starts to warm up.
Brian.
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Santandercol
268 posts
Aug 22, 2006
9:32 PM
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Thanks,
Good input.Interesting to hear different ways of doing things.
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Kelly
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fhtfire
558 posts
Aug 23, 2006
9:41 PM
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Hey,
As for me...I have been breeding non-stop since Feb or so and I am currently on my last round of birds. I usually do not breed this long..but I did some huge spring Cleaning this last year and had a lot of perch space to fill...I only breed from about 11 pairs...and of course some only hatch one egg..you all know the deal....So I had to really let them go to get me enough birds for the year. I also bred a round for a local flier and a couple of close out of state friends. NExt year I man only breed for a short period of time. As for the Heat..N-California get the heat just like Brian..but we do not get the humidity..so my birds do just fine..and do not looked stressed at all...Back in July Bill C. Fed my birds for 3 days while I was on a little vacation and he said that my birds look so healthy for having young in the nests. I breed through the Molt with no problems. Just keep them fat and happy. They get a clean loft...Pellets and mix...grit all the time...Apple cider vinigar her and there..a shot of red cell here and there and electolytes for the real hot days....FRESH WATER TOO>>>and lots of baths....They are never sick and they are always happy...The only bad round I had is when we had the big heat wave with 3 weeks of 105-115f....temps. Lost some eggs and little birds in that round.
It all has to do with were you live for weather...humidity and heat....how many pairs you have...I know guys that can breed one round and have 50 birds...that would be nice....and making sure that you go the extra mile to keep them happy. I swear by red cell...that stuff is magic!!! No wonder why the racing guys use it for ther breeders...it super charges them!! Lots of vitamins and minerals.
I do break a set of eggs every third round just to give them that extra 10 days of rest and seems to work out real good if I feel that they need a break...usually the cocks will let you know when they look like the got the shit beat out of them..lol
rock and ROLL
Paul
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Santandercol
281 posts
Aug 28, 2006
6:19 AM
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Paul,
What is red cell??Never heard of it.
Yours in the sport,
Kelly.
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Opinionated Blowhard
67 posts
Aug 28, 2006
7:11 AM
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Red Cell is just a vitamin-mineral supplement. It's made for horses. For pigeons that don't get enough vitamins its usefull. But there are many other supplements that have the same effect. Red Cell is a good supplement but it has too much iron for frequent use with pigeons. Here is where you can read more about it. Kevin
http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW/E34BX/Class/Horse+Supplies+Supplements/T1/E34BX+0632+0357/EDP/43427/Itemdy00.aspx
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fhtfire
560 posts
Aug 29, 2006
12:19 PM
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Hey,
Red Cell is a supplement that is filled with vitamins and minerals. You DO NOT USE it everyday. I give it to my breeders every now and then. I sort of play it by ear. When they start to look a little run down...from feeding...like high temps outside...or for whatever reason...I will give them a shot of Red Cell in there water...they react real well to it. I do give to the kit birds every now and then too...but use caution with the kit birds....they will get strong on it. I give it to them during the moult...since they are real stressed..I will give them a shot about a week before a comp.
Here is a web site that a racing guy has on horse supplements and RED Cell...he has quite a few good articles...here is the site...
http://www.fyffefamilyloft.com/the_fyffe_family_loft_009.htm
rock and ROLL
Paul
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