snipping "fluff" off bottoms for fertility -- roo too, or just hens?

[patandchickens]

It was suggested to me that part of my insufficient-fertility problem with my sussex eggs might be due to their fluffy undersides, and that I might try cutting back some of the fluff as is sometimes done with Wyandottes.

Those of you who have actually done this, do you do just the hens or also the roo?

Thanks,

Pat

 

[Glenda L Heywood]

first may I state I hatched 3500 birds a yr for several decades
my main breeding birds were cochin and cochin frizzle
both were very heavy feathered breeds

I NEVER liked cutting feathers
the sharp edges of the cut feathers will come up to the roosters and they will flinch when mating
PLEASE do this
take each hen and rooster and softly slowly pull each feather in a 3 inch circle
pull them out
don't do this hard
as you may pull out the flesh
which I never did

I had enough birds to make a 5gallon pail of feathers

this allows more time from time you gently pul out the feathers to the time the need to pull them out again

the use of this method made for good fertility

also this may need you to use my grain method
mix 1 gallon of wheat
with 1/4 cup of wheat germ oil ( not blended)
leave over nite and then mix in morning
feed each adult bird 3 tbsp and do this one day a week for good fertility

also on another day mix
1 gallon of wheat with
1/4 cup of cod liver oil
mix good and feed in morning
3 tbsp per adult bird
this is for good hatchability

do not mix oils as one out does the other

hopefully this will help you obtain good fertility and hatchability