Peckedhen

No worries Owen - the first round were already spoken for last year. They have been slow laying the second round - probably due to the cold snap we had but ,now its warmed up they've all laid again . :) Sue

You can breath a sigh of relief when you get the last on in (and isn't there always one that hangs around and keeps you waiting(dizzy) ). Don't forget to shut the trap!! ;D

It's great letting the YBs out and watching them find their wings.

Thanks for that Joe61. :)

Can you help us novices by explaining what we are supposed to be looking for ?? :-/

OK Mick, you haven't had a reply from the experts so I'll tell you what I do and then, no doubt, they will all slate me if I've got it wrong! ;D Close all the nest boxes up. Put in a 2 1/2 litre old paint tin in each. Put cocks in then introduce hens one at a time. Watch each pair as you put them together, she should nod her head at him.....if he's a bit aggressive, lift her onto the paint tin if she hasn't already jumped up there. Hold her on it for a minute then gently remove your hand and she should stay on it. I leave the tims in for a day or two till I'm sure they are well paired. Open one box at a time letting the hen and cock out to eat and drink - do this for two days. Open two boxes at a time one top row one bottom - or one one side one the other so they are well away from each other. Do this till they can find their own boxes easily. Over the next few days keep opening more boxes till you can leave them all open and they can all find their box. Put the nest bowl in. Wait for the eggs!!

Don't move your next lot of YBs over till you have sorted this out. It won't harm them to stay with the parents longer - if they are still in the nest boxes and you have several, you can put them all together on the loft floor, (I usually put easy bed down for mine). They will still get fed but watch the parents feed and soon start pecking themselves. 21 days sounds early to me for weaning but, there again, I'm probably too soft and leave them longer than I need. I like them fully feathered under the wings before I move them.

PM sent Owen.

Done

Lovely babies.

That looks the bees knees. My loft is very exposed to wind too....the felt ripped off in the first bad storm, so now I have planks of wood with huge stones on top holding the whole lot down and have not had any problem since.

Thanks guys, I'm really pleased with how they've reared considering how b***** cold it was. They have all gone to their new owners today. No Ryan - he hasn't been on here since July either! :-/ :-/ Sue

Done, a real cutie.

Here are a few pics of my first round.

You are right Phil - needs both loft numbers too.

Hmm, I didn't know that. I think that I will send off the forms myself this year.

Don't hold your breath Paul - Almost a year on and I'm still waiting for most of my birds to be transfered - I even filled the form in for the buyers!! :-/ Sue

I've always done this successfully in the past but, a couple of days ago, the hen laid the second egg in the box but didn't sit them. I moved them back onto the floor and she went straight to them - and, yes, it's right in the doorway! I think that it's best to move the nest only a few inches at a time - if you move it too far they will come off the eggs.

Ah right, I understand now. :) Wish I could get my birds in when I want them - I can only do it by cutting right back on the feed...but, there again, for me its just the convenience of it - I'm not racing.

Ooh, I thought that Red Band was for getting them to trap, maybe I'm mixing it up with something else? Mine have breed and wean for a month before pairing and then whilst feeding the young.

Well now, that depends upon how you have to catch them....if they have a box and they back up in it so that you can pick them out without chasing them I think several times a day. On the other hand, if you have to chase them around the loft to catch them, then I think that frequent handling will be too stressful for them. :-/ Hang around, there will be more experienced members who will be able to give you some ideas, I'm sure.

Move slowly and carefully around - no sudden movements. As soon as you are sure they are eating well, get them to feed from your hand. I found it hard not to go soft and give them food in the trough when they wouldn't come to me but, if you persist they will soon fly to you as you go in the loft. As you give the food whistle or make whatever noise you are going to make when you feed so that they are learning that the noise means food and then they will be easier to trap train.

Mr too but, make sure that you put several down at once - if you just put the two down there's a good chance they'll get scalped.

Wow! A very smart set up. All the best for your racing. Sue

Mine nearly always lay when the youngsters are around two weeks old - so are you saying I'm feeding them the wrong stuff? Having said that, this year, for the first time, they haven't, I can only put it down to the very cold weather we've had - enough to put 'em off? :-/