HENS

[johnny11]

Hi All

 

Could you help me out. This year im racing hens on total widowhood, the trouble is they are so merry it is unreal. as soon as the doors to the loft opens they are down shooing each other. has anyone else had this problem and how did you overcome it

 

many thanks in advance

 

John

[Guest]

I know fanciers who keep their hens locked up in individual boxes when not out exercising. A good widowhood hen will beat a cock. I have Alan Jones (redstar lofts) Widowhood hens book at home, its a good read. One year his cocks started throwing flights, so he decided to race the hens insted, they raced really well especially across the water. Sorry this post isnt much help to your problem. My hens (when racing widowhood) are kept on 2 x 1 battons across the section, they love this.

[johnny11]

Gez

When you house widow hens I find its easier to stop them pairing with feed and isolation etc but when you are trying to get them into race condition its difficult as you tend to feed for the race.

 

I was hoping to get away from boxing them up but maybe I will have to

 

john

[madmaxlofts]

yes box the hens up

when not exercising

[Guest]

Like I said I have raced hens into a section with 3 perches across the section, I know they can go on the floor but I never had a problem with them pairing up, another good fancier in my area races them this way. They exercise in and out of this section in the week but on race day they trap into the widohood boxes, firday night they see the cocks in the boxes, then they know they are racing back to these cocks/boxes on a Sat.  Cocks and hens are both sent, if the hen isnt there when the cock returns another will be placed with him until the hen arrives, (not long after usually) the fancier racing this way took the top 8 fed positions a few yrs back racing this way, 4 cocks 4 hens. One thing I have learnt is never be afraid to give somethign different a try.

[Guest REDFOXKRAUTHS]

put grills on the floor

[johnny11]

There are grills on the floor already, and single perches on front of boxes. the hens will still get on the floor even with the floor grills.

 

These hens will be flying to cocks who will not go to the races so will be there at all times.

 

Ive never seen them so amorous when they land from their flight some are like cocks chasing hens

 

john

[jimmy white]

the hens seem to be very well anyway, but as the warmer weather comes,  should think ,quite a few will pair , maybe using poles for perches, grills at an angle on the floor [ i,e against the wall of the loft  to the middle of the floor and the same at the back, creating a   "v" shape] but,,,in the past have found paired hens race very well ...., with the w,hood cocks , ive used the same hens for differant cocks,so really its a case of trial and error  

[Guest]

Johnny I race my widowhood hens every week, train 2 or 3 times a week, they have one exercise session where they fly for two hours every day and then when in they are darkened off. My hens never even look at each other I reckon they are too tired lol.

 

Seriously though darkening their section off will help. They eat as much as they want aswell.

[Guest CS]

Johnny I race my widowhood hens every week, train 2 or 3 times a week, they have one exercise session where they fly for two hours every day and then when in they are darkened off. My hens never even look at each other I reckon they are too tired lol.

 

Seriously though darkening their section off will help. They eat as much as they want aswell.

 

Good reply... Wish you all the best.

[Roland]

Slate floor John, about 212 inches apart abd V perches ... or saggy wire mes floor. Or just have a guinea pig live in there with them.

As you know Frank's Bristows system of hens, he now has slatted floors. 4 / 5 inchinches high kept apart by 2 - 21/2 inch blocks. Will send also a view by another great hen flyer.

[Guest Vic]

John, you must be grossly overfeeding. feed only once per day, barley, diat or anything on the lightside. It's "wings up"  feeding time of the year, aint it? ;D ;                                                                            Vic.

[Guest TAMMY_1]

Slate floor John, about 212 inches apart abd V perches ... or saggy wire mes floor. Or just have a guinea pig live in there with them.

As you know Frank's Bristows system of hens, he now has slatted floors. 4 / 5 inchinches high kept apart by 2 - 21/2 inch blocks. Will send also a view by another great hen flyer.

 

is the guinea pig any good over the chanel roland ?