Darkening Old Birds

[Guest Marshall]

Hi,

 

I need advice on how to race old birds on the darkening system.

 

I have an old bird team that consist of 30 birds (15 cocks and 15 hens). My old bird season starts in early April and ends late June.

 

When should I place them in the dark?

 

What are the hours of darkness they should be in daily?

 

When should I take them off darkening?

 

Should I raise a round of youngsters off them?

 

When should I start training them in preparation for the first race?

 

What should I expect to happen to the moult when they go in the dark?

 

Should I keep and train them seperately?

 

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

 

Thanks in advance.

[Wiley]

your old birds need to be placed on the dark by the 21st March, We used to give our darkness old birds 7 hours of daylight 9-4pm. You take them off the dark 3 weeks prior to the race you want them to excel at. We always trained ours when on the 2nd round, however they was always sent to the first race sitting 5-7 day old eggs.

[dal2]

Hi,

 

I need advice on how to race old birds on the darkening system.

 

I have an old bird team that consist of 30 birds (15 cocks and 15 hens). My old bird season starts in early April and ends late June.

 

When should I place them in the dark?

 

What are the hours of darkness they should be in daily?

 

When should I take them off darkening?

 

Should I raise a round of youngsters off them?

 

When should I start training them in preparation for the first race?

 

What should I expect to happen to the moult when they go in the dark?

 

Should I keep and train them seperately?

 

 

 

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Nae expert admittedly but always wary of darkness in the old bird season because of unpredictable flight throwin!. The biggest plus I find is the darknin of widow hens which seems tae keep them tiptop and very settled.

[Guest Marshall]

Thanks for the replies.

 

Do you folks know of any videos or books that are available on this subject?

[geordie1234]

what is the reasoning behing darkening old birds

[Guest snowy2011]

what is the reasoning behing darkening old birds

Thats what i would like to know because i got told they will losse there first flight after the second round of eggs so that cant be good you want as many flight as posible dont you? if so thats what the darkening sytem does it holds them back sooo wouldnt that be the best method to use with old birds or are there other ways?

[bluebar99]

Hi Wiley, can u share more info about the dark old birds? Currently my old bird season starts around 2nd week April. How lng should they be darkened? Can u give me an outline on when and how long? I'm guessing we use natural light and there is no need for lghts as come spring the hours of light are longer? Also currently in my tram I have late hatches born July-early august that have gone though a yb type dark system being that it is close to winter now..

 

Thanks

 

Jan