my yearlings...

chubs · March 2, 2008

I'm trying to pair my yearlings, there's a lot of noise & not a lot of action! I've split them then introduced hens once cocks claimed box & got one pairing from that but the hen's feeding cock but no sign of nesting & that was couple of weeks ago & other 2 hens want to be as far as poss from cock, i've let them have run of loft now which seems like there might be more going but i really was expecting something a bit sooner! they're doing my head in! any tips people? Is it just cos they're yearlings? as not had this problem with oldr fancy pigeons.

cheers, james.

Castleview · March 2, 2008

I'm guessing it's because they're still yearling's. They've still got some 'young bird' instincts in them. Their paternal and maternal instinct hasn't quite developed like the old birds. If you have old birds, I'd get some young birds off them and leave the yearling's to decide whether to play mommy and daddy or act like spoilt teenagers ;D This is where old hens come in handy, pair the yearling cocks to old hens and they'll settle them down and break them out of there hormone imbalance.

As for the hens wanting to be far away from the cocks, perhaps they don't like them? You never know. You could try pairing them individually in a nest box with a partition in the middle so the cock doesn't scalp them. Make sure they got some food and water each in the box and leave them until there heads start bobbing. If they don't they're not compatible and there's nothing you can do about it. They've had the run of the loft, so now you take control and tell them who's boss.

Best of Luck anyway.

billy wilson · March 2, 2008

yearlings are a right headache,cocks are the worst they want to take over as many partens as the can,the only time they settle down is when the hen lays they are no bother after that,let them out one pair at a time thats the only way to deal with the situation.

billy

March 6, 2008

they are obviously not ready to settle down split them up for a week make sure the cocks are happy with their boxes and try them again let them pair as they want for this year and they will settle quicker

chubs · March 6, 2008

they are obviously not ready to settle down split them up for a week make sure the cocks are happy with their boxes and try them again let them pair as they want for this year and they will settle quicker

I've got 2 out of a possile 3pr's paired now, the one left to pair is the most nervous hen which i think has had an affect.

McDonald · March 13, 2008

AFTER A WHILE THEY SHOULD JUST TAKE TO EACH OTHER.....

McDonald · March 13, 2008

GOOD LUCK WITH THEM

Castleview · April 2, 2008

I think I got the sae problem. My white cock is chasing my new pigeons all over the place. I've had to lock them up.

kev · April 2, 2008

I know this might sound silly but make sure your hen is a hen and the cock is a cock if you know what I mean, Happened me this year when pairing up locked a yearling hen in with a cock and they never took together, I had raced this "HEN" the full young bird program as a hen, I changed her mate and still had the same problem, so I threw her into the widowhood hen loft to get her out of my way and "she" drove every hen in the place mad. You never know.

Kevin

pjc · April 2, 2008

That is a poss Kev, but chubs has said they are yearling, are they latebreds or early bred?

If they are latebreds they may just not have matured enough yet and will pair when ready if they are a pair!

Phil

chubs · April 2, 2008

Just had first 2 young hatch yesterday & all others are sat on eggs now, they were just young & stupid i think, plus carlsberg sorted me a couple of older hens which soon sorted the boys out!