Canspinners
57 posts
Jan 20, 2008
5:41 PM
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My beeding coop is two sections with 14 nest boxes on each side.
I recently got a new line of birds which will be put on one side three pairs and 2 xtra hens all the same family.
If I keep the two hens in with the three pairs will they be sucessfull in laying and raising the young?
Or should I take the hens out so they do not disturb the 3 pairs? (lots of nest boxes 14 5x8 12ft high area ) i do not want to put other males into that section with this family of birds
What do recommend from your experience?
Last Edited by on Jan 20, 2008 5:42 PM
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ROLLERMAN
209 posts
Jan 20, 2008
5:58 PM
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if you can get them to mate with each other they will lay eggs and sit them. they wont hatch but you could use them as foster birds. i have done this a few time and it worked out well
al
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washington86
169 posts
Jan 20, 2008
7:36 PM
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As for me. I usually don't but extra birds hen or cock in the breeding loft due to jealousy of the birds. One time I but an extra hen in the loft and it mated and pair with one male that already have a mate. Then when the cock's original female layed her eggs, the other hen would come and destroy those eggs. i've seen this happen to mine before, sometime the outsider hen would eat the eggs too. Don't happen often though. I would leave those extra hens out using those hen as fostering works too..
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W@yne
971 posts
Jan 21, 2008
9:54 AM
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Canspinners
If you had two extra hens in your stock loft it is possible that they could lay fertile eggs being that a cock would tread any willing hen bird that is game.
But if the hens did lay i would personally take the eggs away and foster them because the hen would struggle to feed the young although i have heard that on rare occasions they can bring the young up successfully. Another easy way is using the bull system this is a method using one cock and two hens type bull system in the search bar and it will give you some good info.
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Regards
W@yne UK
Patience Perseverance Perfection
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Last Edited by on Jan 21, 2008 12:24 PM
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wishiwon2
24 posts
Jan 21, 2008
12:23 PM
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Extra hens arent as much a prob as extra cocks, because they are less territorial. They shouldnt be much problem once your pairs are establlished and sitting well. If you are going to use them as mates and switch with the other hens, then you'll need to house them seperately. Then when you add them and pair them up it will be a fresh new start and they wont try to hang on to old habits like where they perch and such. good luck.
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