dusk til dawn 169 Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 (edited) Most people say they can tell the general health of there, birds just by lookin at them, they probably can, just by walking along the pens, usually twice a day morning feed/evening feed, eg~ red in the face, shine to the feather general attitude etc etc. However this daily routine can sometimes be deceptive, birds flying up at the wire just at seeing you or worse not bothereing to jump down off the perch is a probable sign of under feeding and over feeding. I like to see my birds eager for there food, but not going mad a cock bird should call (chuckle) to his hens at feeding time not try and push them out the way all fighting to feed ! Well ive kinda got side tracked what my point is the best way of telling the true health of your birds is to hold them, feel them in your hands running my hand down a bird from under his crop through his breast over his keel down to his gut, should tell you a fair bit, it will tell you more than your eyes anyway ! By regular holding you will A) quieten your birds down.. learn what they" should" feel like. Oh and before you start " I don't like to handle in the molt" well if the birds are used to regular handling there should be no dramas , just picking a bird off a perch gently feeling them and placing them him/her back down, the positives out way the negatives for me anyway ! you should be able to increase/decrease feed accordingly, or worst case bring your worming plan forward... regular handling is better than waiting to see white faced lackluster birds.. don't let it get that far GET A GRIP (gently) dtd Edited February 23, 2014 by dusk til dawn 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ukroosterman 548 Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 D.T.D I take hat of to you mate that's some good info right there and very usefull to anyone in this hobby. It's very oviouse to me that your knowable man where gamefowl are concernd......... But as state bye gypo Jim the backbiting chicken pedler and he's group of fan boys your only ever gonna be wanna be dykeshitter so don't matter what you. And you'll never play in there league.... Aka banging one out to herbert akcinson print...... So you may aswell just pack up.......... PS since duckwings real identity was reviled bye the dirty shit dykers on the fowl and feather forum..... From know on he we only participate in roller pigoen topics.......... ATB boy Ukroosterman 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
off the tether 277 Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 D,T,D I could not have wrote it any better myself ha,ha,har simple as hands on boys get to know your fowl and let them get to know you very good post D,T,D a,t,b mate speak soon O,T,T 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dusk til dawn 169 Posted February 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 I think its time we concentrated on our fowl.... anybody feel free to add any little or big tips that help keep there fowl in fine fettel . uk move on mate acknowledging, them idiots is more than they deaerve. ps. cheers ott.. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ukroosterman 548 Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 Once again DTD good post I would like to hear your views on gut fat I Iike them to be in shape all year round...... But alott of man like abit of gut thought the winter months.... But at very same time I would prefer them over waight then under..... Uk 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dusk til dawn 169 Posted February 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 uk I like a bird to have a bit of gut fat gives um more flavor ....(jokeing) but seriously fat can be easily removed IF it were to be a problem, however a bird on the thin side would be weaker if ever there was any illiness, and at a disadvanteg to fight it off..even succeptible to an illness ? stripping gut fat can be done with adding extra sctratch litter without reduceing feed.. keeping the birds fitter stronger and there for healthier and happier. I m o . 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ukroosterman 548 Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 As for keeping them in fine fettal a year round routin of worming delouseing is a must...... A clock of garlic in the water will help prevent worms and lice......... A cap full of apple cider vinger in the drinking water will work wonders and helps with brittle feathers....... Chopped up dry nettels are great source of vitamins...... Sprouted grains contain more goodness then normal grain although I don't do this....... I do feed allot of soured oats..... But for me the number 1 feed is fresh green grass........ Don't let your brood fowl carry gut fat as this...... Kill your hatch percentage...... And don't leave the cock with hen for more then day at a time...... Uk 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
off the tether 277 Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 Not jumping on you topic mate but if you leave your birds to scratch to long in deep litter you will remove more than gut fat you will also take the chest of of him I like to massage gut fat to bring it to where I wont it but don't let it get to that stage in the first place back as you said earlier D,T,D handling them in the monthes prior the molt a,t,b O,T,T 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dusk til dawn 169 Posted February 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 personally I especially like by brood cocks to carry a bit of extra weight, I find if he's virial enough he will .need it.. but agree 100% about accsess to fresh grass nothing beats Dr green. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dusk til dawn 169 Posted February 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 you can tell if he's gonna burn his breast off ott. by regularly feelin him that being my whole point ps out the molt I think birds enjoy working for there feed.. but not to deep. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
marshman 7,758 Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 Good post dtd ! Like you said handling and watching is a must for healthy fowl . Good stockmanship is always the key between healthy and un healthy fowl ! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
off the tether 277 Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 Spot on the money lads Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ukroosterman 548 Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 Getting of subject here a liltel but how long does it take for a hen to be clear from a old brood cock befor the hen is clear,.,...... I've heard it stated tows weeks...... A month..... A year..... I think it's wise when breeding your straite lines to only ever let one brood cock mate your brood hen..... To know for sure.... Would like to hear what youse boy think ....... ATB Uk Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ukroosterman 548 Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 you can tell if he's gonna burn his breast off ott. by regularly feelin him that being my whole point ps out the molt I think birds enjoy working for there feed.. but not to deep. you can tell if he's gonna burn his breast off ott. by regularly feelin him that being my whole point ps out the molt I think birds enjoy working for there feed.. but not to deep. . Ouch!!!..... Lol 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dusk til dawn 169 Posted February 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 go on UK. I will have a crack at answering this.. probably one of the most argued question's in fowl but you wouldn't of known that I personally think for arguments sake if you fetched a hen back to your yard, and not sure what it had been in with, putting it in with your brood cock on its own.. for one month then if it is not already laying when it does remove the first 5 eggs you should be safe. a good stamp of a brood cock regulary treading said hen his dominate sperm should over ride any existing sperm plus the removal of first five eggs removeing any residue of the previouse bird.. but this is know way a diffinitive answer ! the better answer would be plan in advance your brood pens. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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