Gregg
181 posts
Aug 24, 2007
4:16 PM
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Doua,
Medical (back surgery) has given me six weeks so far of finding out what retirement will be like in a couple of years.
Time constraints have made my breeding choices for me and that has to be open loft. Yes, I lock up my birds to get the pairings set and get everyone familiar with their nest box. Still, with my set up, you are going to have five to eight percent of grudge babies(someone had it in for you). The ideal situation is total lockdown which guarantees that mating A x B produces AB F1's.
My concern is for the birds physical and mental well being and I don't believe I could ever keep my birds locked in a small compartment for any length of time. They are social critters and very much enjoy interacting with others of their species. That said, if at home constantly, I would probably have larger breeding pens with larger individual pens that I could release the birds into the main breeding area after the eggs were laid.
On second thought, nah. I know I wouldn't do it. I am a genetic nut and know my birds pretty dang well. That includes little nuances of feather, body, type and behavior. It is the rare bird that is illegitmate that I can't determine the paternity of. And the fact is, those birds are sometimes a pleasant surprise in the air. So I do believe I would stay with and advocate the open loft with the closed nest boxes and drop down doors that give the birds their bit of privacy and still allows them to mingle with their neighbors. Sorry for thinking out loud.
Gregg.
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Dark Roll
25 posts
Aug 25, 2007
6:15 PM
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I've always used individual breeding cages.
Yeah, it involves more work, but everything
works out well for me.
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tapp
291 posts
Aug 25, 2007
8:49 PM
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I have 4 familys so I individual pen them. I also have three pair of Mee's in their own loft that have been paired before and three pair of weien's in in their own loft. if I have an ilegitimate child, I'm not to worried! I would never trust different familys in an open loft. I hope to have enough open lofts for each family. I will always use individual for special pairs. I like Gregs way of thinking. Thats how I feel. In a few years I hope to have only one or two familys! But now I quess I like all the confusing things with four familys! Sometimes I think how simple life would be with just one family. But I like them all, so whats a guy to do? I used to do lots of different things until I got rolleritis!!! ps, I think it's Terminal
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Tapp
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fhtfire
1084 posts
Aug 25, 2007
9:35 PM
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I use a semi-open loft system....They are locked up until they lay the first egg and then they are open the rest of the time. I really like the open loft system....the birds seem happier and healthier. If you have different families with different traits...it may be harder. But I run my Rubys and Morts together. Been doing it for years.
Last Edited by on Aug 25, 2007 9:36 PM
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DUCKS N ROLLERS
27 posts
Aug 25, 2007
9:54 PM
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FHTFIRE,
I LIKE THE LOOKS OF YOUR LOFT, LOOKS REAL FUNCIONAL.
IS THAT A SKYLITE IN THE ROOF? AND HOW DO YOU LIKE THE GREEN NEST BOX FRONTS ? I HAVE SEEN THEM IN TWO OR THREE POSTS NOW,
MIKE
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fhtfire
1085 posts
Aug 26, 2007
8:34 AM
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Hey,
I love the green nest fronts....I bought most of them from Tony. They are easy to clean and when I need to clean the nest boxes...I just unscrew them and take them off. They are cut to fit. Measured and then took out the jig saw. Thanks for the compliment...I have everything under one roof..the kit boxes, Hen and cock loft and the breeder loft.
Yes that is a sky light...I have two installed.
rock and ROLL
Paul
Last Edited by on Aug 26, 2007 8:35 AM
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