If I built a 2-3 section cage or used a set of rabbit cages so they were all next to each other, do you think they would be less stressed and continue laying? I have a cabinet incubator and just can't justify running it for one hen's weekly cache of eggs. Mahalo for the good ideas!
Keep in mind that some hens will stop laying for a bit when they are moved to a new pen...............
If I built a 2-3 section cage or used a set of rabbit cages so they were all next to each other, do you think they would be less stressed and continue laying? I have a cabinet incubator and just can't justify running it for one hen's weekly cache of eggs. Mahalo for the good ideas!
Don't we ALL just want a really good cock/erel?
Me too. Now that I believe I will not be contributing to the DQ issues, I will put my four best hens/pullets in with each Male and not worry about which egg is from which hen. Just get a bunch of offspring on the ground and choose the best for 2015. If issues crop up, will go back to single mating next year or later this season if I see problems early. Last year with the two new Males I wanted to be sure who was causing issues if there were any.
PERFECT! And - since you're keeping good records, if you DO need to go back, you'll quickly be able to see who brought what to the equation!
I just have the two roosters and I also have a couple of broody/grower pens along with my main run. I use them for whatever. This year I am going to separate the one rooster into a nice pen with a couple of the girls he likes but so they can all still see each other all day plus both runs come with a part of the yard. I have gone a little chicken crazy and have partitioned my entire yard. It's taken two and a half years to get to this point. I tend to think that each person had to decide for themselves what works for them, their space, and their chickens. So I did stuff as I went along. Both Gangs will get to have a part of the yard to destroy. Right now they are all together in the garden part of my yard. They roost together. I do want to separate the one and a few hens but not sure how that's going to work. I'll tell you later this summer.
I'll also probably let a few hens go with the new Gang during the day. Some I don't really care if they mate or not.
I also meant to add that I only plan to do the move for a month or two of time. I'll need that pen when my third girl goes broody. I don't try to hatch a whole bunch but I do hatch some new ones every year for myself and for others to have new chickens, too.I'd be interested in peoples' single mating strategies. This is a hobby for me. I'm not interested in keeping my fowl in cages nor spending thousands of dollars building individual coop/runs. I can see how it would work out for two hens, but what about 10 or 20? Is there a practical and economical strategy for single mating for the hobby breeder that has 10-20 Marans in two breeding pens? Considering that it's 4 weeks to be safe to make certain of parentage, I'm having difficulty visualizing such a system. I'm with the runaway crustacean...this is fun and I don't want to make it drudgery.
Originally Posted by Viollettt
I just have the two roosters and I also have a couple of broody/grower pens along with my main run. I use them for whatever. This year I am going to separate the one rooster into a nice pen with a couple of the girls he likes but so they can all still see each other all day plus both runs come with a part of the yard. I have gone a little chicken crazy and have partitioned my entire yard. It's taken two and a half years to get to this point. I tend to think that each person had to decide for themselves what works for them, their space, and their chickens. So I did stuff as I went along. Both Gangs will get to have a part of the yard to destroy. Right now they are all together in the garden part of my yard. They roost together. I do want to separate the one and a few hens but not sure how that's going to work. I'll tell you later this summer.
