Advise on Breeding Setups/Batchelor Pads

[averytds]

I've had some eggs almost 3 wks out from a roo still show fertile, but so far, never beyond that. The only time we've had any issues with them not returning to the main coop (their second outdoor home) after a long separation was with a few trying to return to their old juvie coop (first outdoor home). We closed it up so they couldn't get in and after seeing that, most went ahead off to the main coop. There was a pair of diehards that DS had to go move for a couple of nights. We do put the returnees back into the coop after dark.


If they've previously associated your main coop with home and you close up and/or remove your breeder tractor so they can't get back in, I don't think you'll have too many problems. Especially if they haven't free ranged from it. Check the forecast. If it's going to rain in the next couple of days, wait until after and then do it. That way if you have a stubborn one, you won't get wet when you go out to move it. Portioning off a section in your existing coop like you've done before works well too. We keep a way to do it all the time since it also works for broodies, juvies and introducing complete newbies.


Minor pecking order disputes are fine and normal. Problem bullies though, well just get rid of them. Much easier than letting one or two birds disrupt your entire flock. We don't breed the meanies. If I didn't care for the parent, I generally don't care for their offspring.

 

[spook]

Probably if you give your "chicks" (beginning with them) the rotation from pen to pen, then they would be accustomed to where they came from and go to. Raise them up this way and then you may be able to rotate without issues.

Now Zanna, I like your set up, that is nice! Temporary so you wouldn't be "taxed" on it! Nice.

From my experience, once a rooster places a "package" in the hen, it will fertilize at least 18 days, this is what we go on when trading roosters (black roo, white roo- my gals are not prejudice. ~sick humor I know, but we do have one black beauty std cochin and a white splash std cochin) That is interesting too, because we thought the black one was a hen, the two roosters did not come from the same place, they were put together by me. They are in the bachelor pad now, living together with no issues other then no girls. I couldn't allow the stripping of feathers and refuse to make aprons.

 

[Zanna]

Now Zanna, I like your set up, that is nice! Temporary so you wouldn't be "taxed" on it! Nice.

The other great thing is the tractor is easily moveable (as it is built on PVC pipe) with two people pushing sideways from the inside or if we want to move it lengthways, we hook the 4-wheeler or jeep to the front or back with ropes tied to each outside edge and pull it that way. It has worked very well for us so building a similar one for a breeder coop seems like the next step as our hobby gone awry grows