TRIPP
75 posts
Oct 13, 2007
8:24 AM
|
Do you think in our region that I could breed year round if I was to line the bottom of my breeder loft with hay.
Thanks
Tripp
|
Velo99
1334 posts
Oct 13, 2007
9:40 AM
|
Tripp,
Personally I think the breeders need a break to recuperate from the breeding season. Once daylight gets much below 10-11 hrs a day the motivation goes to more of a wintertime survival outlook.
Another consideration is heat. When the hatchlings start to pin and ths parents don`t sit them as tight you are liable to lose a few. They can`t take much below 50 degrees for an extended period of time. This coupled with the slower breeding activity can make it unproductive.
I time my pairings with Valentines Day as the first "lay day". When the eggs actually hatch and the pin stage comes around it is the start of the third week of March and the night time temps are not as cold here. It increases my odds of having a successful first hatch. I usually run about 80% on the first round. Between single eggs and losing a chick or two I get 16 or so out of a possible 20 on the first round.
The second round is usually the best and quickest one to go off.It`s the meat of the season normally(rudy). Breeding is like flying it`s all what you want to put into it.
good luck
ps actually you are just giving up 3 rounds by not breeding in the winter.
----------
V99
Flippin`The Bird!
http://www.bluedotloft.50megs.com
Last Edited by on Oct 13, 2007 9:41 AM
|
fhtfire
1126 posts
Oct 13, 2007
11:02 AM
|
Kenny hit the nail right on the freaking head. Breeders do need a break..especially if you are using individual breeding compartments. If you live in a real cold area...you will have a lot of losses from the hens getting off the eggs to eat and chilling them or like Kenny stated with the pin feather birds getting cold.
Living in Central California...I could get away with breeding year around because the weather is not that bad and I fly an open loft so the breeders are AOK...but I split mine in October and put them back together around Feb...just to give them a break and it gives me a break!...I also gives me time to focus on my kit birds to evaluate the young so I can really think about my next years pairings...like switching pairs or keeping pairs together for one more season.
If you do want to breed year around...I would rotate pairs to give them a break...especially if you are just starting out and want to get some birds flying.
rock and ROLL
Paul
|
TRIPP
76 posts
Oct 15, 2007
7:12 AM
|
This is my situation I got these breeders in the middle of the summer and did not pair them up as I needed to get rid of all my homers and change lofts well got all that done and I have got them in the breeder loft now and have 3 babies that are about 3 weeks old. So What I wanted to do is try and breed through the winter as they did not breed any most of the summer. As of now I only have breedrs and need to start on a kit. I also will have 5 pairs that I am breeding from when I get the cocks to go with hens as of now I only have 2 pair I am raising babies from I am going to meet a man about some birds in the very near future. When I was raising homers I would start December 10th and lost almost none to the cold I put hay in the bottom of my loft as the floor is 1" expanded metal and put a light in.
Covered the wire front of the loft and regulated their days with my timer. So what do you guys think? Possible or waste of time and energy?
|
Tony Chavarria
Site Publisher
1720 posts
Oct 15, 2007
7:26 AM
|
Hey Tripp, I have done it successfully now for 2 years going on a third. The first year, the loft was not insulated as it should have been, I lost too many eggs and squabs.
With snow at about 3 inches and still coming down, temps below freezing, installed heaters ineffective, Joni and I were out there at night in the darkness December 2005 putting up insulation in the breeder loft to save our business (let me tell you, Joni is one tough lady!)
With each new strip put up, we watched the loft temperature begin to rise. We kept insulating until we got to about 70 degrees.
The Rubys all cheered and egg-nog was passed around, crises over. Did not lose anymore to the cold.
This past year, even with the 2 ice storms we had, no losses due to cold. Loft is up in the 70's and 80's during typical freezing weather, got to the lower 60's when outside it was in the single digits.
Just need to plan for heat, insulation and the cost that comes with it.
----------
FLY ON! Tony Chavarria
|
bman
434 posts
Oct 15, 2007
7:38 AM
|
Tripp, to add to Tony's post. Last year paired up the breeders last week in December.(NE Ohio) get pretty darn cold.Kept the heat at 60 degrees and I had no losses. I did have the breeders in for the month before with lights and heat to get them in the mood.
----------
Ron
Borderline lofts
|
TRIPP
77 posts
Oct 15, 2007
7:53 AM
|
I could do that, put insulation up and give it a shot
Thanks Alot Tony
Tripp Grassie
|
nicksiders
2299 posts
Oct 15, 2007
9:53 AM
|
Tripp,
You can breed all year round and should not have any problems. Keep the young ones off of concrete when it gets real cold and maybe use a flood lamp on the coldest of days. Just a regular drop light will do; make sure the bulb does not toach anything flamable and will not hurt the birds.....that bulb will get hot.
Nick
----------
BigRiverRollerLofts
Last Edited by on Oct 15, 2007 9:55 AM
|
TRIPP
78 posts
Oct 15, 2007
12:04 PM
|
Thanks for all the good advice everyone!!
Hey Mr. Nick
When do you plan on going up and meeting Ruben and
leon With the West Tn Roller Club I talked with the 2
of them and they sound extremely nice!!
Let me know and maybe we can split gas!!
and carpool
Tripp
|
Alohabirds
26 posts
Oct 15, 2007
12:28 PM
|
Aloha Tripp,
Question? Will you be able to train these young birds through the winter? (BOP's) If not I wouldn't breed until I could train the young birds. JMHO
----------
Aloha, Dexter
|
nicksiders
2300 posts
Oct 15, 2007
3:01 PM
|
Tripp,
I will give Ruban a call either this evening or tomorrow evening and set a time with him. Is anytime in the evening OK with you? Do you want to take your son with us? He might enjoy it.
Nick
----------
BigRiverRollerLofts
|
classicpony
435 posts
Oct 15, 2007
5:39 PM
|
Mr T,
I run an open breeder loft. They tend to breed year around for me. Not an many but year round, and I let them. I have 4 pair in a closed pins. When the water starts to freeze then I will move them to the loft, but just for the winter.
Jim
Illinois
|
gotspin7
258 posts
Oct 16, 2007
4:23 AM
|
Tripp, one of the things I have done in the past is used a heat lamp, the ones they use for the baby chicks and worked real well, good luck!
|
TRIPP
81 posts
Oct 16, 2007
8:51 AM
|
Yes Mr. Nick
anytime in the evening is ok with me and if you think
you can put up with my son going with us and you dont mind
then yes I am sure he would have fun!! Thanks again!!
Tripp
|
spinner jim
176 posts
Oct 16, 2007
10:53 AM
|
Sorry guys,i dont agree with year round breeding,birds would not do it in the wild ?,they need a break to moult ,grow new feathers and recharge the batteries,to come back for the next season raring to go,i split my pairs for upto seven months,then i can pair-up as i want,years ago i tried an extended breeding season and had all sorts of problems,eg hens going barren,youngsters not getting fed,if you dont have a financial reason to do it, dont,the results of giving them a break is amazing,jim uk.
Last Edited by on Oct 16, 2007 10:54 AM
|
TRIPP
82 posts
Oct 16, 2007
12:18 PM
|
Even if your birds have had a 2 month break through the summer and had enough time to molt?
<<>>
|
nicksiders
2306 posts
Oct 16, 2007
12:25 PM
|
Tripp,
I will call Ruben this evening and see what I can set up. Your boy will be alright and I think he would enjoy it.
I'll tell Ruben that both of us are coming.
Nick
----------
BigRiverRollerLofts
|
Electric-man
709 posts
Oct 16, 2007
1:09 PM
|
Tripp, I don't think you will hurt your birds on a permanant basis if you do! You will probably loose a percentage of the young do to cold, depending where you live and how warm you keep your breeders loft!
If I'm thinking right, your just now getting your birds together and trying to fill a kit box! I would only do it if you can fly them out, depending on your BOP situation, and give them a good break next summer when they start to molt! You should have enough birds by then, you don't need to breed them all winter, anymore! JMO
----------
Val
"Site Moderator"
|