Wives Tales and other breeder secrets...
Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2011 6:04 am
Over the past few years, I have heard a lot of things from a lot of breeders on methods to stimulate egg production and bring on early breeding seasons. Ones in particular that come to mind are:
"Put the birds in the car and take them for a long drive. Then wait two weeks for the eggs." Supposedly this kicks in a migrating instinct which in turns marks the beginning of breeding season.
"Give the boiled chicken at the beginning of the season" Supposedly the added protein and fat makes them cycle into breeding mode.
"Feed them Anise" it will make them lay 7-10 days early. It’s like Viagra for birds.
“Panda Porn” apparently the Washington zoo was having problems with the two panda’s donated by china. The rare pandas were breeding age, but lazy and uninterested in breeding. The zoo keepers apparently piped in the sounds of pandas mating and the panda’s actually ended up getting the idea and started mating.
And yes, even I have laughingly told people to hang the Bird Talk Magazine centerfolds up in the cage to get the birds interested…
I am sure there are lots more of these and while I am not advocating any of them, I am very curious what the rumors, old timers, and the story tellers might have told over the years.
At 17, the old janitor who worked for the company I worked for had a heavy beard. Mine on the other hand was little more than scruff. His idea was that I should pack the underside of my lip with goose droppings to fertilize the hair follicles and promote growth!! (No I didn’t try it) but, you have to enjoy an old wives tale!
If anyone has similar practices that work, don’t work, or never tried to stimulate birds going to nest early; I would be interested in hearing them even if it’s only for a good laugh. Thanks!
"Put the birds in the car and take them for a long drive. Then wait two weeks for the eggs." Supposedly this kicks in a migrating instinct which in turns marks the beginning of breeding season.
"Give the boiled chicken at the beginning of the season" Supposedly the added protein and fat makes them cycle into breeding mode.
"Feed them Anise" it will make them lay 7-10 days early. It’s like Viagra for birds.
“Panda Porn” apparently the Washington zoo was having problems with the two panda’s donated by china. The rare pandas were breeding age, but lazy and uninterested in breeding. The zoo keepers apparently piped in the sounds of pandas mating and the panda’s actually ended up getting the idea and started mating.
And yes, even I have laughingly told people to hang the Bird Talk Magazine centerfolds up in the cage to get the birds interested…
I am sure there are lots more of these and while I am not advocating any of them, I am very curious what the rumors, old timers, and the story tellers might have told over the years.
At 17, the old janitor who worked for the company I worked for had a heavy beard. Mine on the other hand was little more than scruff. His idea was that I should pack the underside of my lip with goose droppings to fertilize the hair follicles and promote growth!! (No I didn’t try it) but, you have to enjoy an old wives tale!
If anyone has similar practices that work, don’t work, or never tried to stimulate birds going to nest early; I would be interested in hearing them even if it’s only for a good laugh. Thanks!
