When preparing your birds for the breeding season there are three key areas to consider:

1. Selecting compatible pairs which will produce healthy, fit chicks.
2. Providing the birds with a clean, sheltered and parasite free environment.
3. Providing the the correct nutrients which mimic wild bird diets. This can increase fertility, help with egg laying and promote rapid chick growth.

If breeders can achieve this their birds will be much more likely to produce larger numbers of healthy, bouncing chicks and less dead-in-shell.
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How to provide your birds with the correct nutrients to boost breeding results...

1. Female birds are prone to stress during the breeding season. Egg-laying consumes great quantities of calcium and the egg contents need lots of protein, fats, vitamins and minerals. The nutritional quality of the egg is very important to the survival chances of the embryo.

Key supplements to use to help in these areas:
Calcivet (CalciBoost) Liquid or Calcivet (CalciBoost) Powder
Daily Essentials3
ProBoost SuperMax
OR FOR A COMPLETE ALL IN ONE SOLUTION USE:
EasyBird Super Breeder

2. For cocks, breeding is less demanding, what they need to be doing is producing plenty of good quality sperm and ‘getting in the mood for love’. Simple deficiencies like vitamin E can play havoc with this process. The diet before breeding has a major impact on both parents and hence the overall success of the season.

Key supplements to use to help in these areas:
Daily Essentials3
ProBoost SuperMax
OR FOR A COMPLETE ALL IN ONE SOLUTION USE:
EasyBird Super Breeder

3. If breeding is hard for hens just think what chicks are trying to achieve. Chicks grow at an incredible rate and have to produce a complete set of feathers in a very short time. If any nutritional resources are in short supply this puts a huge strain on them. The most common issues are calcium (poor bone and feather formation, weakness and perhaps reduced begging), limiting amino acids (slower feather production, reduced growth rate) and vitamin/trace minerals (lower disease resistance). These stresses are significant.

The immune system of any young animal is poorly developed. Much natural immunity is provided by the parents in the early feeds and the babies’ immune system doesn’t start working properly until it is a week or so old.

Similarly the digestive system works best if it gets a kick-start from the powerful liquid probiotic. This maximises early nutrient absorption and growth. In fact we find that some chicks on well-supplemented diets grow so fast in their first week that rings must be fitted at 4-5 days old.

Key supplements to use to help in these areas:
Calcivet (CalciBoost) Liquid or Calcivet (CalciBoost) Powder
Daily Essentials3
ProBoost Supermax
OR FOR A COMPLETE ALL IN ONE SOLUTION USE:
EasyBird Super Breeder

How to provide your birds with a clean, sheltered and parasite free environment...

1. Most birds can be kept in aviaries or cages. They must all have access to draught and wind free accommodation so outdoor aviaries must have a sheltered area for the birds to retreat to when required. Some of the more exotic species may also require heating in the winter. Birds also require security so cage and aviary design should give them privacy to be on their own, however, they should be trained to allow you full access to the environment for cleaning purposes.You must be the leader of the flock!  Cages should be as large as possible and as a bare minimum your bird should always be able to spread its wings.

2. Cages, perches, drinkers and feeders need regular disinfection to prevent the build up of too many germs. We recommend that you use a broad spectrum, bio-degradable disinfectant or cleaner such as Avisafe (Enviroclens). Water is a major source of infection as birds contaminate it so easily. Adding a sanatiser (such as Aviclens (Saniclens)) to the drinking and bathing water stops germs multiplying and so helps prevents disease.

Key products to use to help in these areas:
Avisafe (Enviroclens)
Aviclens (Saniclens)

3. The presence of external parasites in the cages/aviaries or on the birds can cause serious losses - especially to babies. For red mite use Birdy Finect to spray the cages (especially the nooks and crannies). Dust nest sites and birds with Blast-Off Anti Mite. Ivermectin will help with mites like Northern mite that live on the bird.

Key products to use to help in these areas:
Birdy Finect
Blast-Off Anti Mite
Ivermectin

Please feel free to contact our experienced advisors for assistance on any of the above topics:

Tel: 01453 835330
E-mail: advice@birdcareco.com

Or complete our online web form - CLICK HERE