After the difficulties of last season when I was left with two hens, following a theft in mid-January, I was eagerly looking forward to the 2009 breeding season with my Birmingham Rollers. Throughout the previous year successful breeding had increased numbers which included a summer-hatched chocolate that was featured in the Feathered World magazine.
This one turned out to be a hen, thus making an even five pairs with which to commence the 2009 campaign.
The traditional pairing date of 14 February had been earmarked in January as the date when the pairs would be coupled, but due to circumstances this was delayed until Sunday 15 February. All the five pairs laid in 13 days, four pairs having laid within 12 days, which included the late-bred chocolate hen and the remaining pair being a day behind.
Although the experts state birds should lay within 10 days, I always feel up to 14 days is perfectly acceptable at this time of year.
On 17 March eight chicks hatched leaving two clear eggs, so a reasonably good start to my breeding season. Unfortunately one of the single-hatched chicks was found dead on the loft floor having been accidentally pulled out of the nest when the parents either came down to feed or drink, leaving seven
For some years now I have used small plastic nest bowls and nest felts with no straw or nesting material of any kind and have not experienced any problems. Having a large number of racing pigeons, Bantams, Diamond Doves and Zebra Finches everything is fed just once a day while the daylight hours are relatively short. My feed for the Birmingham Rollers has always been obtained from the farm and comprises 40% white peas, now £5 per bag, 40% Wheat, £4-50p per bag and 20% Chicken Layers at £6-00 per bag. The reason I use layers pellets is simply because they are the pellets I feed to my Bantams being half the price of Pigeon Pellets.
Tony's article along with pictures continues in the May 2009 issue of Feathered World
