Darkening System 4 Weeks Only?

[bluebar99]

Hi guys...I’ve read this can be done? But the disadvantages? After 4 weeks of dark..are we still lighting them

Up extra hours of light to hold the wing?

 

Thank u for responses

[geordie1234]

I've heard ppl putting them on the dark for 8 weeks but never as short as four.... Although ive added to my darkness team 4 or 5 weeks b4 I stop the darkness

[dal2]

I suppose you put them on darkness and take them off it when the body moult is done?

[bluebar99]

My thoughts on this is once you’ve triggered the moult...it should continue right regardless the amount of light there are on right? This is what I can think of when I read the comment on a 4 week system. Any others wanna chime in?

[Wiley]

It’s minimum 6 weeks from my experience

[Colsacre]

I’ve practiced the 4 week dark system for the last 3 years. Here’s what I’ve found. I put them on dark on the first weekend in May. By this time my early April weaned young birds have started the primary flight moult. During the 4 weeks of dark the head, neck, body and small wing feathers will all be replaced. The primary flight moult continues but slows down. After the 4 weeks of dark I just leave them with natural light. The main drawback I’ve found is that the cover feathers don’t moult during the 4 weeks. They start to get cast them early August. So you have to watch for wet days. The continued moulting of the primaries is not an issue for me as they seldom throw past the 7th flight by the end of the Racing.