Post by Kickingbird on Dec 12, 2004 9:06:16 GMT -5
Here is my procedure for getting roosters and hens ready for breeding.
Once I have culled my flock and I know which birds I will be keeping and breeding bring, I gather them up and place them all in a small pen or carrying boxes (pet taxies, ect.)
I then choose one bird at a time and place them in a show pen so I can see them stand and walk. This serves two purposes, I can make sure they don't have any skeletal defects I missed in culling and allows me to recheck their health.
Next I pick the hen up and trim her beak with finger nail clipers, trim her toe nails with dog/cat nail trimers, and trim the feathers around her vent.
After the physical gooming is completed I rub scarlet oil on their legs (helps prevent mites) and finaly put lice powder on them near their vent, under the wings, and at the base of the neck.
If you choose you can worm your birds at this time as it is convient. However worming may cause hens to stop laying for a short period so be prepaired for that.
[glow=red,2,300]Special note for roosters: [/glow] For longtails and long saddle birds I have noticed that the feathers often gather mud and manure in the breeding pen. I have noticed that a few times these long crusty feathers can catch a roosters toe nails and/or spurs when trying to breed hens so this year I'm triming my roosters tails and saddles so they don't hang on the ground. They don't look as good but to achieve my goal of 100% fertility I feel it is a nessesity.
Good luck!
Mark
Once I have culled my flock and I know which birds I will be keeping and breeding bring, I gather them up and place them all in a small pen or carrying boxes (pet taxies, ect.)
I then choose one bird at a time and place them in a show pen so I can see them stand and walk. This serves two purposes, I can make sure they don't have any skeletal defects I missed in culling and allows me to recheck their health.
Next I pick the hen up and trim her beak with finger nail clipers, trim her toe nails with dog/cat nail trimers, and trim the feathers around her vent.
After the physical gooming is completed I rub scarlet oil on their legs (helps prevent mites) and finaly put lice powder on them near their vent, under the wings, and at the base of the neck.
If you choose you can worm your birds at this time as it is convient. However worming may cause hens to stop laying for a short period so be prepaired for that.
[glow=red,2,300]Special note for roosters: [/glow] For longtails and long saddle birds I have noticed that the feathers often gather mud and manure in the breeding pen. I have noticed that a few times these long crusty feathers can catch a roosters toe nails and/or spurs when trying to breed hens so this year I'm triming my roosters tails and saddles so they don't hang on the ground. They don't look as good but to achieve my goal of 100% fertility I feel it is a nessesity.
Good luck!
Mark
