Gun Dog Forum

So I'm working on building a coop to hold 10 birds. I would assume breeding even though unintentional is going to be something that is going to happen. Will these birds breed year round? What are my options for getting rid of the young birds? Sell them, release them, shoot them?

Another option is breaking the eggs before they hatch if you don't want to mess with and feed the young.

deseeker wrote:Another option is breaking the eggs before they hatch if you don't want to mess with and feed the young.

How long does it take the eggs to hatch?

I'm going to pick up a few pair of birds and want to have a few hatches to get me up to about a dozen homers.

RichK wrote:

deseeker wrote:Another option is breaking the eggs before they hatch if you don't want to mess with and feed the young.

How long does it take the eggs to hatch?

I'm going to pick up a few pair of birds and want to have a few hatches to get me up to about a dozen homers.

19 Days

At what age will the birds be usable in the field, i.e. they will return home when released?

crazyboy wrote:

RichK wrote:

deseeker wrote:Another option is breaking the eggs before they hatch if you don't want to mess with and feed the young.

How long does it take the eggs to hatch?

I'm going to pick up a few pair of birds and want to have a few hatches to get me up to about a dozen homers.

19 Days

18 days after the first egg is laid, 16 days after they start to set on them.

Ezzy

RichK wrote:At what age will the birds be usable in the field, i.e. they will return home when released?

4 to 5 weeks old depending what you do to train them.

Ezzy

deseeker wrote:Another option is breaking the eggs before they hatch if you don't want to mess with and feed the young.

Wood eggs are another option...

I read that to keep them from producing, hard boil a couple and swap out for fresh eggs. Of course I have no idea how long they'll sit them till they start over. As for getting the birds out and flying, I like to open the bob's when they are flying around and eating on their own and let them decide when they are ready. For several days, they won't go far once they get out. As they get comfortable they start flying more, you'll notice it. I let mine free fly a week or two them start taking them out. I do take them with birds already flying but if you don't have them, just ease them out. Don't be in a big hurry, better to wait a week even two than to lose birds. If you do nothing with them other than free fly, you'll find one day they just do what you need them to do, don't push them.