Signs the Breeding Season Has Started
- Cocks begin to court — cooing, puffing up the crop, following the hen
- Hens become more receptive
- Increased activity in the loft early in the morning
- First attempts at nest-building
When and How to Pair
- Ideally after 10 February — days are long enough
- Place the pair in the nestbox with the door closed for 3–5 days to accept each other
- First egg appears 7–10 days after pairing
- Second egg 2 days after the first
In brief: Do not rush pairing before 1 February. Youngsters from winter nests are weaker and more prone to illness.
Checking and Marking the Eggs
- Mark the date on each egg with a soft pencil on the shell
- Candle at day 5–7 — fertile eggs appear dark, clear eggs are infertile
- Remove infertile eggs after day 8 — the pair can restart sooner
Feeding During Breeding
- Protein-rich feed — peas, field beans, lentils 30–35%
- Calcium permanently available (sea shells, grit with calcium)
- Fresh water daily — consumption increases significantly
- Vitamin E and vitamin B complex for fertility
Tip: Offer nests with a little hay or straw for comfort. Pairs with a comfortable nest lay eggs earlier and incubate more steadily.
First Youngsters
- Hatching at 17–18 days after laying
- First 48h — youngsters do not eat independently, they live on the parents' crop milk
- Discreet daily check — do not disturb the pair too much
- At 5 days you can hold the youngsters for a check without problems
Common Mistakes
- Pairing incompatible pairs — some cocks do not accept the proposed hen
- Too few or too many nestboxes — the number of nestboxes must equal or exceed the number of pairs
- Insufficient feeding in the first days after hatching — youngsters grow rapidly and demand a lot
Concrete Action Steps
- 10 Feb: place pairs in nestboxes
- Day 7: candle + remove infertile eggs
- Day 17–18: monitor hatching
- Day 5–7: ring youngsters if the ring passes