Newflyer
174 posts
Oct 19, 2007
3:58 PM
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I know their has been many threads on breeders. I have a problem I think? I put up 8 pr of rollers over 1 month ago.The cock birds were in the nestboxes for 2 week prior to introducing the hens. QUESTION?? Some have laid 1 egg, some have laid 2 eggs and some haven't laid any eggs at all. How much time do I give the pairs that haven't laid yet? How does one get them to lay in a closer time frame? (for fostering purposes)
What would you do? Or better yet. What should I do?
Fly High and Roll On
Paul
Last Edited by on Oct 19, 2007 4:02 PM
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fhtfire
1138 posts
Oct 19, 2007
5:56 PM
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For one...it is real hard to get them laying together during the winter...it is not the time for breeding and there internal clock knows it. The cocks sperm production drops...they are not as interested...same with the hens. You can trick them by heating the loft..and putting in lighting on timers to stay on later and turn on earlier...it just tricks them.
During the spring and summer you have a better time with getting them to lay together. As for the pairs that are not laying...sometimes it just happens. I had a pair only give me two rounds the whole breeding season. The hen hit the moult and just quit laying....as far as the single eggs....give them sum calcium...Tony sells it and some vitamins in the water...IF they are young pairs...the first year is usually tough.....I usually always put a young hen with an old cock or a young cock with an old hen...just so at least one has some experience with the young.
Could be just the weather.
Good luck
Rock and ROLL
Paul
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Newflyer
188 posts
Oct 20, 2007
11:24 AM
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Paul......As far as the ages. I tryed to match up older birds with younger ones, but some are the same age..I was also under the impression that with pellets you didn't need any grit or calcium. Iam I thinking wrong? I haven't messed with the lighting or used any heat yet. That I guesss I should look in to. Thanks Paul,I'll to give it try.
Fly High and Roll On
Paul
Last Edited by on Oct 20, 2007 11:28 AM
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MILO
610 posts
Oct 20, 2007
1:24 PM
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Not the time of year to breed. Their bodies know when it's breeding time. You have to trick them with lights and heaters to get them to breed well in winter. You have to simulate the long light days that you have in Spring and Summer months to stimulate hormonal changes. Then egg production and fertility shoots up.
c
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fhtfire
1141 posts
Oct 20, 2007
11:11 PM
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I feed pellets too..but I cut them with wheat, milo and sauflour during the breeding season. 1 part pellets, to wheat, to milo..every second round of the three I add 1 part sauflour.
As for the grit....I keep it in front of them no matter what. They eat it when they want it. I will take the standard red pigeon grit with oyster shells and granite...it is usually red with iron....then I will add about 10 pounds of pure oyster shells to the sack and shake it all about..or in other words..mix it up.
I give my breeders a shot of calcium every now and then...as I do...red cell....Pro vital....apple cider vinegar ....Just every now and then...gives them a little boost....
rock and ROLL
Paul
The light and heat is VERY important...Tony could give you pointers on that...I don't breed in the Winter...so I am a retard when it comes to that.
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Santandercol
1553 posts
Oct 21, 2007
6:42 AM
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I'm trying to pump some more out of these Doneks I aquired in August so have the lights on bright from 6 am till 8 pm.Never bothered with heat before as it rarely gets that cold here.
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Kelly
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Double R
138 posts
Oct 21, 2007
6:43 AM
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Paul,
If your going to use lights. It's better to set the timer to come on in the morning and go off after sunrise. That way your birds that have young will have time to cover their young before dark, instead of them being off the nest and the lights going off. So if it gets dark at 7pm I would set the timer to come on at 5am and go off after sunrise to get 14 hours of daylight....
Robby
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Velo99
1356 posts
Oct 21, 2007
7:29 AM
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Paul,
Set your lights for at least 12 building to 14. Also feed em some oats. It`s supposed to help the breeding urges.
Other than that wait til spring.
Normally you should have eggs after ten days two weeks of pairing.
Rob,
Nice catch, I usually set them for the evening and had concerns about the sudden drop in temperature when they shut off. Duh!!
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V99
Flippin`The Bird!
http://www.bluedotloft.50megs.com
Last Edited by on Oct 21, 2007 7:32 AM
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Double R
139 posts
Oct 21, 2007
8:26 AM
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Kenny,
Thanks, I have only been into rollers for a year now. This past breeding season was my first with rollers so I tried to get an early start breeding. I started out with the lights in the evening but got tired of making sure the hen was where she should be every night. When I went to morning lights they were always settled on the nest as the sun went down. I started raising young birds in December and didn't loose any to the cold here in Missouri knock on wood..
Robby
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bman
439 posts
Oct 22, 2007
3:27 AM
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Hi Paul, as far as timing what I do if the timing is out of whack is get all the pairs down on wooden eggs and then pull those all at the same time. The second round should be alot closer together. I have a question for you. By breeding now you will be putting squeeks out in December if you plan on flying them? Better get them some talon proof vests and little tiny helmets.LOL----------
Ron
Borderline lofts
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Newflyer
191 posts
Oct 23, 2007
10:25 AM
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Ron...........I haven't put much thought into that aspect as of yet..LOL I haven't got the birds to get busy and lay any eggs yet, let alone thinking about flying them..LOL
I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.(big smile). But thanks for asking.
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Fly High and Roll On
Paul
Last Edited by on Oct 23, 2007 10:28 AM
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