I don't know if many here are constantly thinking of possible changes they will implement for the next upcoming season but I am constantly looking for ways to improve my birds health and cutting waste out as far as cash imputs. My highest cost is feed. But buying bagged commercial feed thats not specific for peafowl proved to drastically hurt my hatchrates.
I look at housing and pens as a long term investment and as everyone knows here,I always wait until the very last minute before I build anything.I have many upgrades and improvements that I plan to do for 2014. Some have already began,others in the spring when the weather is better,and new breeding arrangements and pairings will be made.I keep very detailed records.For some that only has Peas for the "eye candy" factor record keeping is not needed.But it shows me exactly where I'm doing things correctly,and what still needs improved on.
I plan on making adjustments on many specific problems this spring,all learned from this past years experiences. I know my hatchrate problem will be 100% solved thru testing 2 groups against my entire flocks hatchability rate for 2 years of testing-record keeping,so my first area to address for 2014 is where to,and how to house many more peachicks while they are growing.
I plan on adding Peach,White,and Violetta as new solid colors,and breeding Bronze,Opal,Midnight with bssp hens to get white,pied,and b/s in these colors,even if it will be 2 years before I can start using them.This will require building 6 new breeding pens.
And with raising more peachicks,a few more pens and housing will be needed for when they get older. Outside of buying posts,and some top netting,I think I have all the needed fence and metal siding I'll need for these expansions.Pea Palace West side will need to become a reality now. The windbreak Austrees I planted around the property border a few years ago has grown so much,the west side pens cannot be as large overall as the East side,which was a 50x50,,West Side will be about a 50x40 total area under the net.So,who else knows what they will need to do for next year,or what will you do if you wanna share?
I look at housing and pens as a long term investment and as everyone knows here,I always wait until the very last minute before I build anything.I have many upgrades and improvements that I plan to do for 2014. Some have already began,others in the spring when the weather is better,and new breeding arrangements and pairings will be made.I keep very detailed records.For some that only has Peas for the "eye candy" factor record keeping is not needed.But it shows me exactly where I'm doing things correctly,and what still needs improved on.
I plan on making adjustments on many specific problems this spring,all learned from this past years experiences. I know my hatchrate problem will be 100% solved thru testing 2 groups against my entire flocks hatchability rate for 2 years of testing-record keeping,so my first area to address for 2014 is where to,and how to house many more peachicks while they are growing.
I plan on adding Peach,White,and Violetta as new solid colors,and breeding Bronze,Opal,Midnight with bssp hens to get white,pied,and b/s in these colors,even if it will be 2 years before I can start using them.This will require building 6 new breeding pens.
And with raising more peachicks,a few more pens and housing will be needed for when they get older. Outside of buying posts,and some top netting,I think I have all the needed fence and metal siding I'll need for these expansions.Pea Palace West side will need to become a reality now. The windbreak Austrees I planted around the property border a few years ago has grown so much,the west side pens cannot be as large overall as the East side,which was a 50x50,,West Side will be about a 50x40 total area under the net.So,who else knows what they will need to do for next year,or what will you do if you wanna share?
