i got a 2000 hen and was wondering should i fly her cause she aint even breeding for me or what should i do with her..??? except cull ive tried different mates with her and nothing.. or r their any medications for pills i could give her so she can be fertile again.. ive gave her oyster shell and feeding pellets so she dont need calcium what should i do?
There is something you can try. Put her in with your cock pen and let her pick out her own mate. If she still has eggs in her that is your best option/resort.
I have a blue check hen from Chan Grover 1915-00 and she is still laying eggs this year but last year she did not for some reason. They are very old at 10 years. I also have a black self hen 872-96 from Chuck Roe and that hen has layed eggs every year I've had her. I got here in 2002. Her father and mother both came from Chan Grover and was given to Chuck Roe. Going back further to Al Luna and Valentino. Anyway, I had to pull the pedigree just to check the age of that bird. That is 14 years and still producing. ( Now Pensom said they are best from 3 to 7 years , well this is one gene I would like to keep in some birds! )
This is a good reason not to let your hens lay eggs in winter and throw them away. It is best to seperate your cocks and hens. Take out any nests and have wire floors and a large fly pen with perches and you will get the most out of your Hens. They only have so many eggs and once they are gone they have gone through menapaus as it were. hope this helps Bill C
Last Edited by on Jun 17, 2009 10:08 PM
Some consider and 8 year old bird old, but it depends on the family they come from. My Doug Ouellette family breeds well beyond 8 years of age and I have hens that are 13 years old that still lay. The hope would be that you would have replaced a bird that old in your stock loft that she has produced for you or why would such an old bird be around. But I didnt' get the bird until it was fairly old in the first place. You can try the hen fertility pills from JEDD's. I have had some success with them. But some families are done breeding at a early age or once an individual bird stops laying or not fertilizing eggs you are mostly wasting your time. Some of my old timers I will try the pills on once I have bred my season's kits. It's too frustrating to use up an individual pen for a hen that won't lay, or lays so far out of cycle that the cock is done treading her and the eggs aren't fertile. If you want to keep trying you can try the pills from JEDDs and I recommend putting her on a young stud for a couple weeks. If she doesn't lay break them up for about a week and then put another young stud on her. Also have some foster parents ready for her eggs as if she does lay you will want to keep her going as long as you can as it's most likely her last hurrah! Good Luck
