pigeon master Posted August 1, 2009 Report Share Posted August 1, 2009 Hello fellas, I’ve gone and ordered 75 ex layers to release into a small wood for some rough shooting over winter. I have a couple of questions?? The wood is only about 5 acres so how likely am I too ever see them again once I’ve released them?? I’ll be placing some feeders in to try and contain them but unsure if these adult birds will just nash off over the horizon?? Should I have gone for poults?? Just gone for low maintenance and having never done it before wanted to play it safe. I have a pen about 20m x 20m which is grassed with some cover and trees but the fence is only about 5ft tall, will they just fly over the top or do they tend to hang around if I keep the feed going in?? Any advice is welcome The PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spider72 Posted August 1, 2009 Report Share Posted August 1, 2009 Hi, We use ex-layers every year (I joined the shoot this year but have been beating for them for a while) last year they were let out a bit early and we had a job to keep them around. This year we built a new pen in a better position with more light and cover to encourage then to stick around.. they hadn't been clipped properly and someone cut a hole in the fence so they all got out (240 -0 overnight) we are getting some poults in an effort to rescue the season but the idea about the ex-layers as you say is they are low-ish maintenance and as we all work full time it's hard to get someone to go every day to look after poults. I have some ideas to try and get some of the birds back as they are probably still in the wood somewhere which I'll try over the next few months till the season starts. In short. Ex-layers are fine. Provided you make sure they are properly clipped to stop them flying for a while until they've had a chance to get used to their new home and keep them fed and happy in and out of the pen. Good luck I hope you have a good season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon master Posted August 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2009 Hi, shame to hear about your birds escaping!! So do you clip yours?? Would they have time to moult new feathers for when the season starts?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spider72 Posted August 1, 2009 Report Share Posted August 1, 2009 Hi, As I said it's my first season as a member but I am told that within a few weeks the birds would have new feathers emerging. Ours were pretty ropey looking when they arrived but everyone assured me that they would grow new feathers now they were out of the laying sheds and getting good food etc.. On the clipping front, only one wing should be clipped this un-balances the bird so they can't fly, if you clip both wings they still have balance and can get a reasonable height. The flight feathers should re-grow in time for the season start. We don't clip them the supplier clipped them (badly) All the best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted August 2, 2009 Report Share Posted August 2, 2009 (edited) Use the same size and colour of feeders outside the pen as inside and plenty of them to start with . You can always decrease the number of feeders when you know they are still about . The other thing I did in the past was to put BIO-BITS on them,lets the feathers get a good start and the bits come out themselves in time . Good luck If you PULL the outside flights instead of cutting them ,they start to grow back straight away instead of waiting for a moult. Edited August 2, 2009 by nipper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon master Posted August 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2009 Nipper they dont have any bits in, to be honest I was shocked the the poor ******* had them fitted at the farms. I wont be buying any in the future if thats the case for all the farms, I'd rather breed my own. I was part of a syndicate last year but I didnt know how bad they were kept before now. The PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v-max Posted August 8, 2009 Report Share Posted August 8, 2009 without bits they would peck each other to death so its safer for the birds to use then. only way of rearing pheasants without them would be in really small number in big huts/pens. Hi as said it is really required when rearing pheasants to bit them. Laying hens get specks fitted or a blind which is to prevent egg pecking but also helps aid feather pecking but its for laying birds only. ex-layers will always look bad as they can have a rough time of it & if the weather aint been good it makes them worse on out door layers. Your layer should come back come time as they will go off on a wonder but release them with plenty feed hoppers etc & a bit of a straw bail might help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon master Posted August 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2009 Thanks for the info fellas, much appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spider72 Posted August 11, 2009 Report Share Posted August 11, 2009 Yeah, we've put down 150 more poults and the ex-layers are starting to come back. We'll keep up the feed and try and draw them back in. the pop holes are open so they can come and go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon master Posted August 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2009 I opened the pens the other day and they all started heading off into the woods, there is a small grass clearing so most kept quite close to that. To be honest the following day I expected to never see them again but when I returned most were back in the pens. Happy days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janner1 Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 Hi If you have time loose feed the woods daily or as often as possible this is a the method we have used for years and have no problem holding ex layers hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spider72 Posted August 27, 2009 Report Share Posted August 27, 2009 We have straw down at every feeder, spice added to the feed and the birds are sticking around and even returning, the pens appear to be working as intended so the season looks like it should be a good one! Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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