How to make pairs

[0pensaysme]

I know this is a basic question to some of you experienced people.

 

This will be my first year, already in my loft paring is taking place by self selection.

 

 

I want to choose who breeds with who, so how should i do this?

 

Do I lock up the cock bird in the nest box? and if so for how long before i add the hen?

 

[Guest]

There are several different ways you can do it,I generally lock the cock and hen in their box together for a few days placing a brick inside so the hen can shelter behind it to give her abit of peace.During this time I keep a very close eye on things as I don't want the hen to get scalped or distressed if the cock is more keen than she is!,if she is getting bullied I would place her in a show pen next to the cock so he can't actually get at her but they can still pair,when things calm down and they have accepted each other then i would let them out together and hope he takes her back to his box.If all goes according to plan I usually let the pairs out of their boxes individually [1 pair only at a time until the hen lays] after about 6 days for a short period only so they learn their way back to their box,probably for half an hour each pair twice a day building up the time gradually until everyone knows which box is theirs,any not getting it to start with needs locking in for longer,seems harsh and is time consuming but this way you guarantee parentage.Once the eggs are laid build up the time trying 2 then 3 4 pairs at a time out until they are all out at the same time,observation is the key during this time as to how things are going and acting accordingly.

[jimmy white]

well put chrissy  ,, would maybe just add to that, that the cocks and hens are better for being seperated from each other [not seeing each other if poss] for a week or two b4 mating up. otherwise, you will have a bigger job on your hands just trying to change their mates  

[Guest]

well put chrissy  ,, would maybe just add to that, that the cocks and hens are better for being seperated from each other [not seeing each other if poss] for a week or two b4 mating up. otherwise, you will have a bigger job on your hands just trying to change their mates  

 

Sorry forgot Jimmy that alot don't seperate for the winter,my cocks and hens don't see each other from september till january.

[jimmy white]

just that i noticed chrissy that oksaysme   said his birds are pairing up now "self selection" so ,took it they were still together , so im sure youll agree that a wee seperation period would make the job a bit easier in the long run ,,,,and then on to what you said   :)

[Guest gladdo]

well said both of you ...jimmy nice idea !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! im taking it all in aswell !!!!!!!!

[The White Rapido Man]

so I can can crack a round off simultaneously I have found the following to for me.

 

1. cocks and hens are split from September

 

2. 2 week before actual pairing I lock the selected hens in one side of the nest box, which the designated cock has comendered........

 

3. after a week it should be visible that the cock and hen have taken, as they will be close in the box...dispalying at each other and nibbling thought the plastic....

 

once I am sure this is the case I lock the cock in one side of his nest box for a week, and let the hen out..

 

4.  Normally she will return back to the same box if paired......After 2 fustrating weeks of seeing each other and not touch......when you unlock the door.......it all happens  in unison....... !!!!!

 

I have found that I usually get mine chipping with 2 or 3 days of each other......

 

there other ways......but it works for me

[Okitsme]

I really did not find it hard to pair up my birds. All I did was put the cocks and hens together in a nextbox and left them for about an hour, all are paired up now and building nests already. Maybe it was just a fluke but I did not do anything special.  :-/ :-/

[Guest Paulo]

if its yearlings they need supervision really as they can be a bit rough with the hen and scalp her. It also cuts down on fighting if the cocks have been in the end you are putting them in and frought along themselves to pick nestboxes before you introduce the hens

[Guest]

I know this is a basic question to some of you experienced people.

 

This will be my first year, already in my loft paring is taking place by self selection.

 

 

I want to choose who breeds with who, so how should i do this?

 

Do I lock up the cock bird in the nest box? and if so for how long before i add the hen?

 

Are these the fancy pigeons your planning on showing this year?

 

 

 

 

[0pensaysme]

Not showing at all at the moment.

 

The problem i think i have is that i did not seperate cocks from hens as they all live together sharing the shed and flight.

 

I'm a little lost now as to what i should do. I'm thinking now that i should lockup the cocks in the best box. Let them get used to it and then add the hen a week later.

 

What do you think?

 

[0pensaysme]

Help :'(

[homer]

Help :'(

 

have you not got 2 seperate sections , 1 for cocks and 1 for hens ??

 

 

[0pensaysme]

no, just one

[homer]

no, just one

 

dont know how big your shed is but the way forward is to divide it into 2 with a simple partition.

wether you are racing birds or just keeping them for pleasure you need at least 2 section if you are going to breed.keep the hens one side all winter and the cocks on the other.then once you paired them up in 1 side (only) you have an area for the yougsters to be weaned to .as soon as the youngsters are feeding themselves they need to be weaned across into the other section.their parents will have gone to nest again and will eventually treat young from their 1st round as intruders and bully them out of the box.the youngsters then have nowhere to go but the floor and are vulnerable to bullying by the other adult birds.

 

i know this isnt the answer u wanted but its the way forward and so much more practical than having just one open shed with all your adults together.

 

 

[0pensaysme]

My shed is 8x6, so i could split it down to 2 sections. Do i need to sperate the avery section as well? I think i do :

 

later on I think i may add another shed, to make life a little easier

 

For now, how should i tackle the pairing up issue?

 

By the way i keep fancy pigeons Kings and modena's

 

[homer]

0pensaysme  i hav sent you a pm.