Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
968 posts
Apr 24, 2009
3:58 PM
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Hey All, Each day I place my squeakers on the floor in one central pen. This pen also serves as a breeding pen for one pair. Feed and water at floor level so they can teach each other how to eat and drink. This all happens younger then most would allow, but I feel it helps with the kitting instinct when they huddle together for the day. At early evening I pick them up and return them to their parents for feeding until they eat on their own.
That was background for what I am about to say. In the pen I use for this training, I remove the cock for the day as some of the youngsters are very young and mixed with his young. My fear is that they will seek food from him and because they are not his be rejected strongly.
Each night I also clean the floor of any spilt food and the days accumulation of poo. Tonight while I cleaned, the cock, freshly returned to this pen was so anxious to feed his young he jumped on my back on his way to the floor and began feeding literally between my arms. Oh, did I mention he is feeding three as I had a single and wanted to hurry my program along, so I fostered the single into his nest with no determent! Now that's a trait worth breeding for!
Thom
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katyroller
382 posts
Apr 24, 2009
5:17 PM
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Thom, I used to do the same except I didn't use the pen. The only time I had any issues was if there was a new cock in the pen. The older cocks would get on his ass if they saw him going after their youngsters. I've had squeeks rejected pretty hard but never scalped. Evening feedings were pretty funny to watch because the cocks and hens would feed anyone that wanted to eat.
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Velo99
2103 posts
Apr 25, 2009
7:23 AM
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By the time I get ready to put squeaks on the floor all my cockbirds are daddies. They USUALLY compete with each other over squeaks to feed. I normally put em on the floor permanently when the parents lay again. I dont think I have ever even had one get beat up. That would earn a cockbird a little time in lockdown. Redirect his way of thinking.
Watch your breeders. Closely. If you`ll watch the way they interact with each other and the squeaks you should be able to find what they want to make them more comfortable and relaxed. In my experience this allows them to pay closer attention to the task at hand,raising babies,not beating them up.
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V99
blue sky single beat
in cadance performing now
earth beckons the winged
drawn breath is let quickly forth
orchestral movement follows
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Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
969 posts
Apr 25, 2009
9:03 AM
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katyroller, The pen I was talking about is 5'X5'x7' tall. I use it as an auxillery individual brood pen. The day I placed the second batch of squeaks on the floor, I had to work and could not watch them. The cock has never hurt any but I'm a worry wart!
Kenny, This cock has been just great, I've even let him feed three squeaks with success. I start placing my youngbirds on the floor before they are eating on their own a few hours at a time. Then back to the individual cages for feeding. As soon as they are eating on their own and can fly up to a perch it's on to the kit box. I monitor them in the kit box for a few days until I positive they are independent. I was more posting about this cock's instinct to nurture his young over coming any fear of me.
Thanks, guys! Thom
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katyroller
384 posts
Apr 25, 2009
7:04 PM
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Thom, I had a couple foster cock birds that didn't make it in the regular breeding loft. I would have culled them but like you I found their strong instincts to be invaluable. Tracey
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