Hens Control The Breeding Cycle

I am often ask, "Are your birds breeding yet or When are going to breed your birds?" My standard answer has always been, I watch my birds and when they are ready, I am ready.

But a better answer would be that I watch my birds and when the hen is ready, the breeding cycle begins! It truly is the hen who determines the start of the breeding cycle, not the bird breeder, and not the male! When the breeder takes control without working with the hens natural breeding condition signs, disaster often results such as infertile eggs, hens that do not sit on the eggs, eggs that do not hatch and chicks that die of starvation.

As the hen comes into breeding condition, she has endless energy, fly back and forth frantically and turning flips in mid air and becoming increasingly interested cocks, even calling to them. She may pluck feathers or tear up paper and try to build a nest in a food cup or on the floor. Should she squat and lift her tail while calling to the cock, waste no time the breeding cycle has just begun!