I have many a hen that is acting like she is "raring to go" and yet her cere isnt the colour everyone else says it should be. I put her in the breeder cabinet with the "boy of choice" and within a week or less the cere colours up and she is preparing the nestbox.

I guess Kas all hens are different, there is only 2 hens I have at the moment with creamy tan ceres, one has been down for 3 weeks and is going back in the flight, and the other just raised a nest on her own and but she is finished for this year or at least a couple of months to give her a break.

But the hen in the picture her cere came up a lot darker in the photo than it actually is and her cere isn't really crusty, I would say quite smooth like but not shiny.

Edited June 11, 200718 yr by splat

There is no hard and fast rule with Breeding or all the breeders would be top breeders. What works for one person maybe different to another.

That is why you can buy a good hen from someone and find it won't lay for you. Different surroundings, different management etc..

 

I have recieved a cock that wouldn't breed and got two rounds of chicks off him. I have also receieved a hen that was a good breeder and can't get eggs.

 

The good rule is to know your birds. They will tell you when they want to go down.

Hehe Well this certainly became a confusing topic . Initially all I wanted was a picture of a hen with a cere that showed the crusty look of breeding condition as opposed to scaly face. It seems to now have become a debate? on when to introduce hens and cocks. Is that not a separate topic ? (Laughing out loud) You guys have so much information to pass on it seems to pour forth of its own accord

There is no hard and fast rule with Breeding or all the breeders would be top breeders. What works for one person maybe different to another.

That is why you can buy a good hen from someone and find it won't lay for you. Different surroundings, different management etc..

 

I have recieved a cock that wouldn't breed and got two rounds of chicks off him. I have also receieved a hen that was a good breeder and can't get eggs.

 

The good rule is to know your birds. They will tell you when they want to go down.

 

That's right Daz, last year I bought s really good pair and the breeder told us not to expect any thing from them that year and I got 2 nest of 6 chicks from them, But they wouldn't breed for him. The cock was 3yrs old and hen was 2.

They're are down again and have 8 eggs, most seem fertile so far.

I also bought a really nice skyblue opaline cock, about 4yrs old looked out of condition a bit , the breeder said he wasn't much good for breeding anymore as he hadn't got anything out of him for 2 years, well I put down this year and he is up to his 2nd nest already what lovely birds he was throwing. They are going to the uncapped show coming up soon. Can't wait.

I say, its all down to the birds. If the birds are acting keen, regardless of cere colour, let them try.

I would try hitting them up with some sparks a week or two before you pair up. I catch up the hen on a wednesday and put her in the breeding cage with the nest bow ready to go. The cock is then introduced on the saturday. Egg usually arrive (not all the time) on the following sunday.

Am I reading correctly, that the hen's cere will change back and forth from chocolate and crusty to lighter and smooth?

 

If so, Gracie is ready to go... or maybe beyond, but with the stress of a new home, I'll definitely wait for the next cycle. When might that be?

 

Diana