Trimming fluff and cushions on cochin hens

[Pumpkinpup]

How many of the rest of you bantam cochin breeders out there have to trim your hens to get fertile eggs? This is the most frustrating thing for me! I hate having to do this because obviously you can't show a skinned hen but you don't get fertile eggs from a huge fluffball either

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Checkout this youtube link showing you how to AI. It takes some practice, but done correctly you should be able to AI 2-3 hens from each session and you could do it up to twice a day from each cockbird...maybe more...someone with more experience would have to answer that.

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

I do. I just trim a few inches' diameter from around their openings. It seems to work pretty well...

 

[Pumpkinpup]

THANKS, Judy! That would be great! I had someone give me a brief tutorial at the Newnan show but I have been unable to successfully manuver all the fluff out of the way while holding the bird and then actually manipulating the cock bird and collect all at the same time

I'm not much of a multi task kinda gal if you know what I mean

 

[Pumpkinpup]

After watching the video clip, her method differed slightly from what I was shown. I will try this way instead and see how that works for me. I wish I had seen this before trimming some of my hens but luckily I was reluctant to trim my best show hens

Now maybe I won't have to!!!!

 

[pokey]

i don't show, but trim my cochins and silkies . helps with hygeine too.

 

[Msbear]

I bought a beautiful mottled trio from Jamie Matts. He told me he AI'd his birds and I foolishly assumed it couldn't be all that hard

I even recruited my hubby

to help with the collecting to no avail. I did have him separated but don't have the room or the want to keep them apart. I've tried several times with nothing so I trimmed... A LOT and I now have 2 out of 15 eggs developing

I've decided that this is too much for me. I originally wanted ornamental garden fowl and thought showing would be fun but this more than I bargained for. Im unloading them at the next show ...with full disclosure

I know they say you need to practice a lot to perfect this skill that is poultry artificial insemenation.... I just prefer them to do it

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

I agree that it takes practice. And each roo is different too. But usually with time, they'll "give it up" pretty quickly. When you see the "roo juice" the first time, you'll always know if you're getting the right stuff from then on.

 

[chickenlady]

'roo juice' LMAO

I have been trying to 'take care of my rooster' for a while but just cannot do it, lol. I think I might be laughing too hard as I am trying it, praying that noone is watching me for fear they may call the cops on me, lol. My poor rooster probly thinks I am laughing at him and gets depressed and thus no 'rooster juice' for me

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Yeah...at our last swapmeet I was showing some folks how to AI. My roos are bantams so I just hold them upside down on my lap. So, this particular little roo just goes to sleep right afterward...still laying upside down on my lap... and I swear everyone was ROFLTAO.