Any Ideas.

[greenlands]

I have ten pair of racers,seven pair laid no bother,infact quicker than I expected,even the old cock 01 bird both eggs full.I then lost a cock from the loft ? and sorted another to go with the spare hen which took to him right away,so I'm not expecting her to lay for a few days.The others though driving and clapping about the skies shouting look at me don't look like laying.Any thoughts,would you part them for a few days,knowing my luck the hens will lay while I have them parted or just leave them and hope for the best,

Lindsay

ps.

The first eggs were layed on the 4th.

[Guest ROCKYandRAMBO]

it happens mate some of my yearlings have only just layed and others have hatched today , have to remember that its been very cold and alot of the storys you read where every one says all there birds layed in 3 days are just that storys , so dont part them they will lay in there own time and remember today is ment to be the day when all birds mate ect so plenty of time yet

[Guest grizzler]

could be that these hens are not quite ready to lay lindsay...if it was me i would leave them as they are...they will lay when there ready

[marmite]

leave as they are my yearlings have only just started to get ready to go down but older birds ive taken there 1st round of ybs away some just take longer than others

[Guest Owen]

Pigeons, like all birds require light to bring them into breeding condition. Some will always take longer than others, depending on the hours of light they get. As the daylight hours increase, you birds will become ever more ready to breed. Another reason for late layers is the amount of fat on them. Ideally, the hens especially, need to be on the lean side before pairing. As the season goes on the breeding will become easier and easier. If you want to breed early next year, you should consider fitting lights and a timer switch into the breeding loft. It will make all the differance.

In addition to all this, you can try feeding mixed grit and minerals mixed with crumbled clay blocks every day fresh. I am convinced that it makes a big differance. Sunshine will also have a beneficial effect due to the fact that birds need the sun on their feathers to create essential vitamins from the oil on their feathers. They take them in when they preen.

[greenlands]

Hi Owen, not going to the expense of buying a dimmer I have the lights on a timer on 04:30 and off 08:30.these were put on two to three week before pairing.Birds get Vanroebeys mixed grit ,natural pick stones and poultry spice,they also get poultry tonic once a week.The yearligs have laid no problem,all birds were flying twice a day for about two weeks before I paird them up.The ones that have not layed (2 Year olds)are flying the skies like young birds .

Please keep coming with ideas because the ones that haven't laid I thought would have been first (paired together last season)

Lindsay

[Guest Hjaltland]

could be that these hens are not quite ready to lay lindsay...if it was me i would leave them as they are...they will lay when there ready

 

Totally agree.. just give them time and they will settle and lay in the next few weeks. The weather has been very cold and may be so again this week. The birds were obviously not ready, maybe their overall fitness needs looking at in the long term