Dave B / 19 Nov 2011 07:31

I put the birds together usually in February, and even then we have some
snow and freezing conditions. However, the weather is usually on the turn
along with the daylight hours, so by the time the birds are paired settled
and laying, we are heading into warmer and lighter conditions, compared from
now through to February.

I see no point in breeding at this time for flying purposes, as the weather
alone will put a stop to flying them, also the birds will not take a knock
back so well, for the settling process, and the falcons will have easy
pickings as other flying breeds are all locked away too.

But if we have a heated environment, and we are just breeding for future
stock, as a one off i do not see this being a problem.

To breed all year around though, using the same pigeons, is a no no. I think
to expect a hen to be laying and rearing youngsters, in this way, will
certainly reduce the longevity of future breeding years from the hens point
of view?

Yearling hens, i only breed of very lightly, sometimes just letting them
have one or two rounds. As they get older, three rounds is the normal, and
very exceptionally i have on the odd occasion bred a fourth round, but never
the normal.

If we value the hens, then we treat them with care, and in this way you can
expect a lot more good breeding years ahead, if we are just allowing hens to
breed all year around, then the breeding expectancy of hens will be
drastically be reduced, and importantly, the quality of the youngsters
diminish.

Dave B

Submitted by Dave B on 11/19/2011 7:12:31 AM