what sex goes firs in box?

[lawrie]

when pairing birds up, what sex do you settle to the box first, the cock or the hen? and once the bird is settled how long do you leave it untill you put the other bird in the box?

[REDCHEQHEN]

our cocks picked their boxes in October - that is - the ones who didn't have one (youngsters)

 

The hens will be paired when its time to breed - most will be going to the same cock and box anyway

[Red.Yoyo]

It can be useful to put the pair in a section on there own, even if just for 10 minutes or so to see how they get on. If you have doubts about a pair taking then put a brick up on end against the back wall of the box so that the hen can get up out of harms way if need be. Dont let her get scalped.

[Guest]

you want the cocks to have their boxes all winter so when you give them there hen there is less fighting in the boxes this wont cut it out alltogether but will help, some cocks when given the hens for the first time will want to take more than one box allways happens this is when eggs are broken and y/birds trampeled

[lawrie]

i get the birds on tuesday so as far as im aware they havn't been paired together yet. is it best to lock the cock in the nest box for a few days then introduce the hens?

[Guest]

yes let the cocks pick there box and wait at least a couple of weeks before giving them a hen it wont do any harm to wait a bit at this time of year

[Peckedhen]

Don't be in a rush...(says she who couldn't wait for her first round ;D)...  They are going to take a while to get used to the move and the new loft so the chances are, even if you were to pair them straight away, they won't lay.  

 

 

[Michael J Burden]

My boxes are empty. Cocks are in a perched side and hens the other. The next time they see the boxes is when I pair them up.