Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[brahmabreeder]

Do you have an older cock? I have one friend that when the hens aren't putting up with the cockerels he drops the cock in for a day or two, then reintroduces the cockerel. Plucking fluff around vents might help an inexperienced cockerel as well.

Only cock I have is buff. I did trim up butt fluff in November and then again a few days ago.

 

[brahmabreeder]

I asked the breeder I got them from and they said that they are having low fertility due to it being winter. Said wait until it warms up and it should pick up by then. Guess I'll just go ahead and skip the show in June. Might show the males. I'm also curious as to what everyone feeds their breeder birds. I give mine 17% layer feed and was told the calcium could be too high for the males?

 

[Arielle]

HOw is the lighting situation?? Sperm production is also light based.

You might feed a higher quality feed as well. Not just quality protein but a higher plain of vitamins and minerals.

 

[BGMatt]

I asked the breeder I got them from and they said that they are having low fertility due to it being winter. Said wait until it warms up and it should pick up by then. Guess I'll just go ahead and skip the show in June. Might show the males. I'm also curious as to what everyone feeds their breeder birds. I give mine 17% layer feed and was told the calcium could be too high for the males?

If you've had them on lights, that should help overcome the seasonal part of that. Males need the light too, there was a study on it but I'll be danged if I can find the link right now. A lot of layer feeds are too high in calcium in general, long term it can have an adverse affect on the liver and kidneys. I feed a custom layer mix with 17-19% protein and 2-2.5% calcium. Still a little bit high for the males but not nearly as bad.

 

[brahmabreeder]

They do have lights and the hens lay like crazy but it's not seeming to make a difference with the boys. Think a game bird feed could work for them?

 

[BGMatt]

Can't hurt. There's also a product called rooster booster that my Game breeder friends swear by. Might be worth a shot anyway. Gotta get those cockerels a little boost somehow.

 

[3riverschick]

If you've had them on lights, that should help overcome the seasonal part of that. Males need the light too, there was a study on it but I'll be danged if I can find the link right now. A lot of layer feeds are too high in calcium in general, long term it can have an adverse affect on the liver and kidneys. I feed a custom layer mix with 17-19% protein and 2-2.5% calcium. Still a little bit high for the males but not nearly as bad.

I have switched from Purina Flockraiser 20% to a new Agway Meatbird which is 22% and only 1.6% calcium.
Female's egg shells are nice and hard. You might also sprout from
Plotspike Forage Oats for them ( Tractor Supply Company). http://www.plotspike.com/forageoats.htm
Sprouted oats have long been lauded for helping bring hens into lay and helping the males develop more
robust sperm to help them produce more robust chicks. Feed 4-7 day old sprouts as green feed, as a
supplement to their daily diet . 1 cubic inch per bird per day to or bowel tolerance. If the bowels get soft,
just back off a bit and they firm up again.
Best,
Karen

 

[hellbender]

Can't hurt. There's also a product called rooster booster that my Game breeder friends swear by. Might be worth a shot anyway. Gotta get those cockerels a little boost somehow.

I guess I'll have to be just a bit less demonstrative in my posts.

BGMatt...I read your posts and have much respect for your knowledge and experience and I agree with 99.9% of what you say but I think if a cockerel doesn't have what it takes, then another bird should be considered.

Providing 'Boosters' systemically and perhaps helping a bird over a temporary 'hump' can only weaken the breed, not in the long run but in the very short run.

It does the breed no good and certainly does the future breeders no favors either. Witness the number of sterile birds and near sterile breeds that plague some fanciers.

Respectfully

RON

 

[BGMatt]

I guess I'll have to be just a bit less demonstrative in my posts.

BGMatt...I read your posts and have much respect for your knowledge and experience and I agree with 99.9% of what you say but I think if a cockerel doesn't have what it takes, then another bird should be considered.

Providing 'Boosters' systemically and perhaps helping a bird over a temporary 'hump' can only weaken the breed, not in the long run but in the very short run.

It does the breed no good and certainly does the future breeders no favors either. Witness the number of sterile birds and near sterile breeds that plague some fanciers.

Respectfully

RON

You're right, I absolutely agree. As plenty of long time poultrymen have said though, you start where you are with what you have. If that's all you have to work with, it's all you have to work with. Breeding is about compromise sometimes. I think in this particular situation, I'd do whatever it takes, and then keep more males longer than I would otherwise next year and see which ones are the most virile and fertile, and use them going forward.

Separate paragraph to emphasize what Ron said here, it absolutely will pass itself down. I know of a strain of Self Blue Old English that no matter what he does the breeder can't get fertile eggs til about June...so he waits til then to hatch, not my cup of tea, but it just shows that it does pass down.

 

[brahmabreeder]

So this is possibly in their genetics? I suppose I could try to breed them to be fertile earlier.