Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
interested in the new hens. But then again, a particularly aggressive male might show
increased interest and resultant fertility, making the exchange a huge success! You nev-
er can tell exactly what will happen until you try, but it's much less risky to establish a
breeding pair or group many months before the laying season begins.
For ducks, switching drakes as the season progresses also decreases your success,
and in some cases will not work at all with some of the heavier breeds. If you are trying
to change established duck breeding partners or groups, make your switches during the
summer molting time. With proper feed, they will come back into lay soon, and in late
season/midsummer, your new combination will be successful.
As far as geese go, switching breeding pens once the season begins is most likely a
recipe for failure.
Turkeys need to have breeding pens established by the middle of January in most in-
stances. Allow a group of turkeys to run together much past that time, and you'll find
the hens have already picked out their boyfriends. The longer you wait, the more reluct-
ant they will be to cooperate with any sort of matchmaking on your part.
SADDLES FOR YOUR TURKEYS
It is a good idea to purchase turkey saddles for hens to wear during mating. Male tur-
keys can be slow to complete the breeding process and tend to be rough on the backs
of the hens. Their toenails are sharp and as they tread the hen they slip and slide and
their toenails can rip her sides. A turkey saddle protects her back while providing the
male with something to hang onto.
Turkey saddles, made of canvas, are placed over the wings of the hen — usually
in late winter before mating thoughts begin. It is easiest to leave the saddle on until
she dies and then remove it and reuse it on a different hen. This avoids stress on the
wearer and protects you from getting hit in painful places by turkey wings as you
take the saddle on and off.
