Missouri-Flyer
1 post
Dec 07, 2006
7:50 PM
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Hello all. I recently "2 years ago" restarted my passion for rollers after a 15 year seperation and wanted to find out how many of you seperate your hens from cocks in different pens during the winter? Just trying to decide what the benefits are,if any. Thanks, Jerry
Last Edited by on Dec 07, 2006 7:51 PM
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nicksiders
902 posts
Dec 07, 2006
8:09 PM
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I do and I even seperate them in the kitboxes sometimes.
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Snicker Rollers
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nicksiders
903 posts
Dec 07, 2006
8:12 PM
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Oh, by the way welcome back into the hobby and you choose the right site if you are in it for performance. Glad to hear from you. Where in Missouri are you from? I am about 60 miles from the Missouri border (Marion, AR)
Nick
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Snicker Rollers
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Missouri-Flyer
2 posts
Dec 07, 2006
8:37 PM
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Thanks Guys, and Nick I am from Bolivar,Mo. which is 25 miles north of Springfield. I was very fortunate to meet a few excellent members from the N.B.R.C that live between myself and the Branson area that invited me to their houses to watch their birds fly. After a few trips I was offered a total of 6 pair of proven breeders from these individuals and from there I have been able to raise roughly 25 or so both years of decent birds. The gentlemen I received the breeders from are well known in this area and are strong flyers in the fall fly and WC. I enjoy it now as much as I did 25 years ago when as a young kid I would walk a mile down the road and watch a gentleman by the name of Jerry Higgins birds fly.. What days those were, and these are as good.
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Santandercol
463 posts
Dec 07, 2006
8:49 PM
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Jerry,
It is a good idea to separate them during the molt period around August-Sept to give the hens a break from being harrassed by the cocks.If you let them breed through the molt,they can get out of condition to the point it is hard to bring them back into shape for the best breeding time January to June.Good Luck.
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Kelly
Last Edited by on Dec 07, 2006 8:50 PM
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JMUrbon
96 posts
Dec 08, 2006
5:29 PM
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Jerry I agree with all of the other posts but I go one step further and seperate them so they cannot see each other. Alot of the other posts probably do also but I just thought I would add it in for you. I do this because if a hen can be driven through a wire by a cock she will go eggy and hens are born with all of the eggs they will ever have. You dont need a good hen waisting eggs that are unfertile. Joe
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Santandercol
470 posts
Dec 08, 2006
5:33 PM
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Joe,
I have a hen doing just that,laying every ten days in the separation loft.She's mated up with another hen(horny bitch!!!)How can a guy stop that from happening?
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Kelly
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
860 posts
Dec 08, 2006
7:00 PM
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Kelly, let them sit on them in the hen loft.
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Santandercol
472 posts
Dec 08, 2006
8:07 PM
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Hmmm,thanks Bri,that'll be next time she lays as fed the eggs to the dogs already.I should have thought of that!Live & learn eh.
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Kelly
Last Edited by on Dec 08, 2006 8:10 PM
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fhtfire
695 posts
Dec 08, 2006
8:19 PM
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I have pairs that I keep together all year..because They are "click" pairs. I just give the hens wooden eggs to sit on. During the winter they really slow down anyway...I have some hens that just stop all together until it warms up. My new pairings or cocks I want to try on different hens...I do seperate...I usually leave the cocks in the breeder loft to keep there nest boxes...then when the hen is ready...I stick her in the box and close the door..they mate within minutes...anyway..that is all I got. Joe is right....don't let them see each other.
rock and ROLL
Paul
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Missouri-Flyer
3 posts
Dec 09, 2006
8:53 AM
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Thanks for the info guys. I have removed my hens and placed them in an empty kit box, except for 2 pairs that i left together that are on eggs. Last winter I used artificial light with heaters and kept them together all winter and was able to hatch several babies. I decided to seperate this year and start again in the spring. Again, Thanks.. Jerry
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Santandercol
478 posts
Dec 09, 2006
6:33 PM
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Jim,
the big thing is being able to train birds in one group to kit and trap and all that and having as many as possible close to the same age so they train as a group.So,if you can have a bunch ready to begin flying when the skysharks are headed elsewhere,I think you will do better as far as losing young birds goes.That's why guys start putting pairs together in January so by early march you're ready to fly.Maybe still some preds around in march but by end april you should reasonably clear skies.
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Kelly
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