How old fertile hens?

[Guest Vic]

I remember buying an old hen, many moons ago, fom a good flyer in  Liverpool named Jimmy Boyd. This hen had bred many winners, and seemed a snip at the time. Unfortunately, this "stock hen" didn't fulfill  my dreams, because it couldn't help to fullfill its eggs, if you see my point. It was seven years old at the time.

           This has always stuck in my mind, regarding how old a good hen can go to.(regarding breeding.) I am delighted this year, that my best two stock hens, (10 years old) are still doing their matrimonial duties. Four out of four filled and no rough eggs at all. What is the opinion of other scribes? Vic.       

[bewted]

i think old hens are good,if,not bred out of them excessively !!!

[Guest Vic]

i think old hens are good,if,not bred out of them excessively !!!

???????????????????????? Vic.

[Sajfos]

Vic ,

I have 2 Hens 12 Years old , both laid fine this Year , nice eggs ....I have been adding Osteocare to the drinking water & think this makes a difference .

 

Steve...

[Guest Vic]

Vic ,

I have 2 Hens 12 Years old , both laid fine this Year , nice eggs ....I have been adding Osteocare to the drinking water & think this makes a difference .

 

Steve...

There aren't many that are reproducing at 12 years old, I'll tell you. Good luck with 'em.

 

[Guest]

I've been led to believe from top fanciers that it is better to put the young from these old hens in the stock loft rather than race them as they old hens can't give them as much vitality as they did when they were younger! Do you guys feel this is correct?

[timbarra]

Hi I have a 12 year old stock hen which still gives good eggs... as stated by others who know, it depends how you look after them..

 

my birds get no added medication or help from bottles or concoctions... just quality pigeons !!

[Guest Vic]

I've been led to believe from top fanciers that it is better to put the young from these old hens in the stock loft rather than race them as they old hens can't give them as much vitality as they did when they were younger! Do you guys feel this is correct?

 

IF I thought they were short of vitality, no way would they go near the stockshed. But I do believe that summer bred pigeons, whether from old hens or young hens, can sometimes fill any missing gaps.  

[Guest]

 

IF I thought they were short of vitality, no way would they go near the stockshed. But I do believe that summer bred pigeons, whether from old hens or young hens, can sometimes fill any missing gaps.  

 

Would you be prepared to race the youngsters out of the old hen, and if you have done this, have you had success with them? Do you find the youngsters from the old hens are different in anyway Vic, ie; slightly smaller, etc? (To what they were when she was breeding as a 2-3 year old)

[Guest Vic]

Yes, the earlier ybs were more successful, but they were paired to good racing cocks in their younger years. I only wish that I had taken a lot more fom these two good stock hens. But due to racing the darkness system for the last seven years or so, I have found that by  doing so, later bred ybs seem to "get in the way" somehow. I'm sure that some of you knowledgible guys will know where I am coming from. ;D Modern day methods I'm afraid.

[Guest]

Aye, I would agree there! But haing a team of natural youngsters for the long distance loft balances my own personal "in the way" issues. I am interested as to your findings with the slight deteriation in quality/size or whatever to the birds bred when the hens were younger.

 

I once went to buy some pigeons from a real top fancier in the West of Durham, who was selling off due to moving to a remote Scottish highland! His main stock hen was there, as prepotent as anything you could bring in from the continent. The guy wouldn't sell her as her youngsters weren't of the same quality as she used to breed! He showed me several Fed winners from her, then showed me the recently sameway bred youngsters. There was a clear difference! The guy was a retiring head teacher, a very, very intelligent man, and one who loved his pigeons dearly. Whatever wasn't sold was going with him to be kept as pets, he couldn't race where his new abode was! I purchased from him some real class birds, but he would not let the hen go as she wasn't producing the like of what she used to! Credit to the guy, he was open, honest and geniune! He could have taken my money and run as many would do. But i learned something that day, they don't keep re-producing the same quality as they get older in my opinion. Thats why i was interested in your findings! Thanks again Vic, once again, class enjoyable postings!

[Guest MBpigeonguy]

here in winnipeg a guy had a hen for 20 years she bred him good birds every year, last year they put her down, winter was getting to much for her,

[Guest]

I read some where that a hen only has so many egg folicals to start with so it depends how many rounds per year that would explain the 7 year /12 year thing would it not

[Guest cloudview]

yes i think your correct   frank ,  few years ago  alocal   fancier  by the name of  alan  winstanley  did an autopsy  on ahen of mine  she had amassive growth  on her oviduct   after putting   her down  ,   he asked me  , more for curiosity  reasons  if   he could open her up  to see what was going on inside , and sure enough  there were the  eggs  , this hen was six years old

[jimmy white]

I read some where that a hen only has so many egg folicals to start with so it depends how many rounds per year that would explain the 7 year /12 year thing would it not

 

i have also heard of this ,, but some hens are born with" more egg folicals than" others,,,,but i have noticed , that long distance birds with top class constitution , breed to a riper age and can live to a ripe old age ,, my freind tam mcleod had a hen who scored 4 times over 500 miles lived until she was 22 years old and as far as i know filled eggs at 14  :-/

[Guest]

Think it is very important to provide a wide selection of vitamins,minerals and grits [possibly even a calcium supplement] to the birds prior,during and after breeding has finnished.The hens can become very depleated of calcium through egg production especially if they are rearing 2 or 3 rounds or more.