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| Flame and Fuchsia in 2014 - © Gail Lewis |
Got this question today and thought I'd share it:
"Hi Gail,
I have a quick question. At what age would you say a Bourke hen is too old to breed?
Thank you! - Julie"
Our Answer:
"Hello Julie, It sometimes depends on her health, how much she's bred in the past and how much exercise she's had throughout her life. Hens in smaller cages that can't fly freely whenever they wish, won't be as strong.
"Hello Julie, It sometimes depends on her health, how much she's bred in the past and how much exercise she's had throughout her life. Hens in smaller cages that can't fly freely whenever they wish, won't be as strong.
As my hens age, after say six or seven years of age, I limit their clutches to one or two and never three. I have one hen this year, Fuchsia, that I didn't give a nest box to. She wants to breed, but to discourage her, she won't get a nest box. In 2016, because of a family emergency, I didn't get boxes taken down soon enough and this hen had four clutches. It didn't seem to affect her at the time, but may have long-term. Last year, at age 7, she had an odd thing happen with her eggs ... hard to explain. It wasn't egg binding, but she had some difficulty as two eggs seemed to need to be laid at the same time. Maybe one didn't get laid soon enough and another followed right behind it. Luckily she laid both the same day, back to back, but ended up with what appears to be a prolapse. Neither egg was good, by the way. Today she's healthy, but any more egg laying would probably not be wise for her.
In 2017 she only hatched and raised two babies of her own (after a record hatch in 2016). However, last year she did foster babies from other hens with large clutches, and one for a hen who only hatched one egg. I didn't want that baby to get cold by being alone, so gave him to Fuchsia to raise with others. She's an excellent mother, but is at risk for laying more eggs. She's very tame and sweet, so at a little over 8 years of age I am retiring her and her mate, both hatched in early 2010. She will be missed as a foster parent, but I'm too fond of her to risk allowing her to lay again ... if only she could brood and not lay eggs!
Males work hard at raising babies too. Yet, our old Rhett (now departed) was still fathering offspring at age 12. He had three hens in his lifetime, and the last two outlived him. It was his third hen that he raised babies with. Cherry was younger than he was. I often wonder if he was overworked and I should have retired him sooner. He and Cherry did skip a year on their own, but surprised me by going back and raising young the following year.
As is typical, there is not black and white answer ... each bird needs to be evaluated separately based on their health and history. Hope this is helpful. "
In 2017 she only hatched and raised two babies of her own (after a record hatch in 2016). However, last year she did foster babies from other hens with large clutches, and one for a hen who only hatched one egg. I didn't want that baby to get cold by being alone, so gave him to Fuchsia to raise with others. She's an excellent mother, but is at risk for laying more eggs. She's very tame and sweet, so at a little over 8 years of age I am retiring her and her mate, both hatched in early 2010. She will be missed as a foster parent, but I'm too fond of her to risk allowing her to lay again ... if only she could brood and not lay eggs!
Males work hard at raising babies too. Yet, our old Rhett (now departed) was still fathering offspring at age 12. He had three hens in his lifetime, and the last two outlived him. It was his third hen that he raised babies with. Cherry was younger than he was. I often wonder if he was overworked and I should have retired him sooner. He and Cherry did skip a year on their own, but surprised me by going back and raising young the following year.
As is typical, there is not black and white answer ... each bird needs to be evaluated separately based on their health and history. Hope this is helpful. "
Peace & Blessings,
Gail
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| Fuchsia looking into a newly arrived nest box, about 2015 or 2016. Flame has already been inside to inspect and approve it. © Gail Lewis |
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