Any poultry judges out there? feather clipping around vent question

[Black Feather]

Have you tried allowing your birds to breed naturally? I had a show quality line of Cochins and I didn't have to clip, pull or band feathers to gets fertile eggs.

Cheers,
Urban Coyote

 

[thecochincoop]

I did notice that when the feathers grew back that my fertility went down to about half. The fertility was very good, almost all, when the feathers were clipped, but I want to show them some in the spring as well as hatch some eggs. What would be my best solution?

 

[Black Feather]

AI would probably be your best solution then. A cochin breeder once gave me a demo on how it was done and it's not hard at all and a hen can produce multiple fertile eggs from one AI session.

UC

 

[Smoky73]

AI is your best bet and there is a video on youtube on how to do it. Depending on what time in the spring you are wanting to show, you can clip now and breed like mad, just be sure that 2 months before the show, you pull the clipped feathers back so that they can grow back in time for the show. I have heard 6 weeks for grow back, but I prefer at least two months.

 

[thecochincoop]

I won't be doing any breeding untill the weather breaks. I cant have all those chicks in the house. I guess I will have to do AI. How long does it produce fertile egg for and will it work if they are all in the pen together. I don't have the facilities to separate them out. Can anyone post some good links that would explain how to do it?

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

It's very easy and quick. You only need to AI each hen about every 7-10 days. They'll lay multiple fertilized eggs from that one time. I've got 4 eggs in my bator now to see if they are fertile. I have very heavily feathered show cochins and although the rooster covers the hens well, I'm not sure if it's getting the job done. I'll find out within the next 1-2 days. I plan to AI them, but they just started laying again from their molt.

Here's the best link: