How long do you keep a breeding pair of utility birds

[Splandry]

just wondering how often should I rotate my breeding stock. I have White Kings and Texas Pioneers.

 

[biophiliac]

just wondering how often should I rotate my breeding stock. I have White Kings and Texas Pioneers.

@JLfarm might know the answer, he raises Hubbles.

 

[JLfarm]

@JLfarm might know the answer, he raises Hubbles.

Hi yes I usually keep my pairs for about 3.5 years with no problem but I have kept some up to 5 years.

 

[JLfarm]

just wondering how often should I rotate my breeding stock. I have White Kings and Texas Pioneers.

How well do your Texans produce, and do you have any problem with fertility ? I used to raise white kings and Texans as well as the Hubbles but I found the Texans had a low fertility rates.

 

[biophiliac]

How well do your Texans produce, and do you have any problem with fertility ? I used to raise white kings and Texans as well as the Hubbles but I found the Texans had a low fertility rates.

Thank you JL. I am following your other thread...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/hubble-pigeons.1277750/
I had heard about Hubbles once in another thread, maybe from you, I know Louisiana was mentioned. You have very nice birds. I have racing homers so I don't usually think about eating pigeon although I has crossed my mind that a few of my bad boy cockbirds might look good in a roasting pan!

 

[JLfarm]

Thank you JL. I am following your other thread...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/hubble-pigeons.1277750/
I had heard about Hubbles once in another thread, maybe from you, I know Louisiana was mentioned. You have very nice birds. I have racing homers so I don't usually think about eating pigeon although I has crossed my might that a few of my bad boy cockbirds might look good in a roasting pan!

You are right about the other thread but that wasn’t mine but I do know the man that gave great information in that tread as well as the breeder he mentionedand thank you and you can still eat racing birds they don’t have much breast but it’s bigger than a quail

 

[cavemanrich]

I has crossed my might that a few of my bad boy cockbirds might look good in a roasting pan!

You would not need to go as far as Hong Kong to sample these.

 

[Hokum Coco]

how often should I rotate my breeding stock.

I would think that it would vary from one pair to the next. With cock birds being able to reproduce longer than your hens.
This comes from experience with homing pigeons however not from raising utility birds which I know little to nothing about.

 

[JLfarm]

I would think that it would vary from one pair to the next. With cock birds being able to reproduce longer than your hens.
This comes from experience with homing pigeons however not from raising utility birds which I know little to nothing about.

This is true I totally agree that you kinda just have to do what you feel is right. As long as your producing enough squab to satisfy you then you shouldn’t have to rotate your breeders but once production starts to decrease then I’d start rotate out my breeders.

 

[Splandry]

Thanks for replies. Now that you mention it I have had eggs kicked out of the nest and pretty sure it was the Texan’s how do the Hubble’s work out never raised those? And by the way that sure looks good laying in that plate