steve49
422 posts
Feb 24, 2010
5:20 PM
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i have two kits in lockdown, one 09 males, the other 09 hens. so far, i've gotten 3 sets of eggs from the hens getting together. will this stop? what should i do if anything?
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Steve in Blue Point, NY
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fhtfire
2477 posts
Feb 24, 2010
5:23 PM
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To be honest...during the winter I could care less about eggs in the kit box...or how they fly..I want them to be warm..and healthy..the only way to do that is rich feed and more of it...wit that comes crappy flying and eggs....as soon as you start flying and really feeding good...the eggs should go away....but one egg every now and then is what I am talking about...sets of eggs...you may be a little to rich on the feed....
I have had a few in the kit box during the winter.....during fly season it is RARE...
Some freak out about eggs in the kit box...during the winter...really....to me...who cares...I rarely try and fight mother nature...when you do...... something suffers....anyway..just my thoughts....
rock and ROLL
Paul
Last Edited by on Feb 24, 2010 5:24 PM
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steve49
423 posts
Feb 24, 2010
5:32 PM
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thanx Paul. i didn't mean to sound like i'm getting eggs all the time, just one set today, and another about a month ago, and another a month before that. so, only 3 sets over 3 months, total of 15 hens.
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Steve in Blue Point, NY
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STUDENT 2 THE GAME
205 posts
Feb 24, 2010
5:33 PM
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just leave them in if she sits them . That way they dont keep laying..
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steve49
424 posts
Feb 24, 2010
5:35 PM
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i have 1x2 wire floors, so they fall thru. there are no flat places to set, other than the box perches, but they're only 4" deep.
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Steve in Blue Point, NY
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JMUrbon
915 posts
Feb 24, 2010
9:49 PM
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The eggs wont hurt them in the kit box as long as you are not flying them. If I were you I would consider starting to cut back on their feed though. They wont lay if they are lean and that is done by controlling the feed. If you put birds out that are eggy they may harm themselves. Also check them prior to release just to be sure. Joe
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J.M.Urbon Lofts
A Proven Family of Spinners
http://www.freewebs.com/jmurbonlofts/
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Scott
2900 posts
Feb 24, 2010
10:29 PM
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If I have eggs in the kitbox I know that I'm not paying enough attention to my birds and they are over fed and out of control.. I may see one every two years or so.. big no no in my book.
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Scott Campbell
" God Bless "
Last Edited by on Feb 24, 2010 10:29 PM
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macsrollers
277 posts
Feb 24, 2010
11:26 PM
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During lockdown it is very easy to overfeed or feed your birds even over a period of time. This is when you start getting hens pairing up and starting to lay. When you aren't flying your birds you still need to manage the feed. Splitting cocks from hens is the first step. Then watching the feed amount is next. They should react to feeding time almost as if they have been flown. This is all part of managing your kits. Just because a roller acts hungry doesn't mean it needs alot of feed. They will fool you for sure!
Keep them lean and hungry enough to react to you when you open the box. Handle them from time to time to see how lean they are. During the winter months you want to keep a little extra weight on them but not too fat. Joe also makes a good point. Hens that have been locked down should checked before just letting them all out as any that are ready to lay or eggy can cause irrepairable damage and you may not only lose them as a good flyer, but ruin any chance of them as a potential breeder. Been there, done that! It's all about paying attention and not getting lazy during lockdown. Part of the learning process Steve. Fortunately you have a site like this and experienced guys sharing knowledge so hopefully you don't have to learn the hard way like some of us! Enjoy your next fly! Don M. Mac's Rollers
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steve49
425 posts
Feb 25, 2010
2:32 AM
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i have been overfeeding, but since i wanted the birds to be able to handle the cold, i thought it was ok. i was going to start cutting back a few weeks before letting them out again in april, but after reading what you've all said, i'll cut back to make them hungrier, and hopefully keep them from pairing up.
thanx to you all for your help.
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Steve in Blue Point, NY
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katyroller
721 posts
Feb 25, 2010
12:36 PM
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What is the real harm in overfeeding during the winter if you aren't flying? I would think that the birds would be fine as long as you cut back on the feed and leaned them out before you started flying them again. I have never had birds gorge themselves to the point that they couldn't fly. I've had them eat to the point that it affected their performance but it's winter and most of us have had to lock down because of the BOP and weather.
Tracey
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JMUrbon
917 posts
Feb 25, 2010
7:52 PM
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You are correct Katyroller, The thing that does happen is that if you dont check the hens prior to release then they are liable to throw an egg. That can not only destroy any future plans of breeding from them but can and likely will kill them. I feed my birds up during the winter monthes but I also make sure the kens are free of eggs prior to releasing them come spring. Joe
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J.M.Urbon Lofts
A Proven Family of Spinners
http://www.freewebs.com/jmurbonlofts/
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Scott
2901 posts
Feb 25, 2010
8:27 PM
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I am more concerned with the mental aspect of pairing up.. the eggs are just a by product and a gauge of a problem from my mismanagment.
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Scott Campbell
" God Bless "
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JMUrbon
919 posts
Feb 25, 2010
8:32 PM
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Very true Scott, I dont put much thought into the mental aspects when I have the birds on lockdown. But I do know how much pairings in the kit box can disrupt a kit. I rarely have that problem once I start training due to the physical condition of a well conditioned kit bird they erent interested in pairing up. they are interested in food and thats it. Joe
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J.M.Urbon Lofts
A Proven Family of Spinners
http://www.freewebs.com/jmurbonlofts/
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wishiwon2
301 posts
Feb 25, 2010
9:02 PM
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Unlike many, I fly all winter through, I dont lockdown. Although Im not pushing for prime performances, I expect not to see bad behaviours. Pairing up in the kitboxes causes problems in the kit flying. I am struggling with that issue right now. Spring is coming on and Im trying to keep them fed down so not to be pairing up and yet not get in jeopardy with a cold front coming through. I see eggs in the kitbox as a sign of mismanagement. I have only ever had a few and this spring I lost my first ever hen spinning out her oviduct. It was a big loss, she was a really good one.
This is one of the difficulties managing a family of rollers that need maximum feed/nutrition to get solid work from. You regularly run the risk of spoiling a hen and or having cocks being too cocky and causing probs with in the kit. I prefer birds that work their best a bit under full feed for this reason as well as others.
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Jon
If it were easy, everybody would do it
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winwardrollers
435 posts
Feb 26, 2010
11:52 AM
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Eggs are for the breeder pen.
Joe how do you go about checking a hen before release to see if she is eggy?
First off you can see that the bird is tring to mate to give you an indication the problems are already in process. Do you simply look through the birds and look for humped up hen with droopy wings?
bwinward
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steve49
426 posts
Feb 26, 2010
1:04 PM
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so, we're supposed to feed enough to keep the birds warm during harsh winters, but not enough to encourage pairing up? i've cut back on the ration i'm feeding the kit hens, and if they leave even a fraction of feed, i will cut back some more. does this sound like a safe way to go?
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Steve in Blue Point, NY
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JMUrbon
920 posts
Feb 26, 2010
5:41 PM
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Brad I will actually feel the hens down around the vent. They will feel somewhat swollen and at the advanced stages you will actually feel the egg. But as you stated, A tall tell sign is a hunched back. Joe
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J.M.Urbon Lofts
A Proven Family of Spinners
http://www.freewebs.com/jmurbonlofts/
Last Edited by on Feb 26, 2010 9:47 PM
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macsrollers
283 posts
Feb 26, 2010
9:43 PM
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Steve, you are on track. If there is feed left in the tray or how ever you feed them it is too much. I don't want my post to be miss-interperted. When I say lean I mean healthy as well. There is nothing wrong with feeding your birds up in the winter, like Katyroller states. I am talking about controling their feed enough so they don't lay while locked down. A egg here or there is going to happen during lock down for most, but when you get 3 or 4 sets of eggs then you may want to start controlling their feed. Also remember, the advice you get online is mostly good advice but you should only use it as guidelines. Your birds adapt to the conditions you have them in such as weather, types of kit boxes, feeding, and your management. So on this subject please don't overreact and cut the feed back too much as if you had to have them in flying condition. Just watch the rations and that should help with your hens laying during this time.
Enjoy your next fly, when you can fly! Don M.
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steve49
427 posts
Feb 27, 2010
4:20 AM
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thanx Don.
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Steve in Blue Point, NY
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