Young Bird Light System - Step By Step
November 15th
Put lights on for 12 hours. Pair up breeders.
Once paired and settled to boxes, separate.
December 6th
Put breeders back together with 12 hours light.
Give bowls and nesting material.
Hens should lay around the 16th.
January 1st
Increase lights to 16 hours. When youngsters hatch increase lights by 5 minutes a day Until you reach 18 hours.
When you reach 18 hours youngsters will be 24 days old, and Ready to wean to Y.B loft. Leave Y.Bs on 18 hours light until you turn off. Mid April. Do not exceed 18 hours.
February 14th
Young birds will cast 1st flight. Cut two tail feathers – pull 14 days later.
Feed 20% barley morning – after exercise.
Give 20% chicken lay pellets. Remove all uneaten pellets, as old birds will eat these.
Evening feed 60% moulting mix 3pm.
February 28th
Young birds will cast 2nd flight.
Pull the two tail feathers.
March 14th
Young birds will cast 3rd flight.
March 28th
Young birds will cast 4th flight.
Any young birds not cast 3rd flight – cut 9th flight.
Remove corn and water for 24 hours, and then give a full feed of barley with Water/4ml cider vinegar per litre.
Next day 50% barley and 50% malting Mix.
Continue with water/cider vinegar for up to 5 days.
April 11th
Pull 9th flight, if been cut.
Young birds will cast 5th flight.
Any young birds not on 5th flight – cut 10th flight.
Noticeable body moult should be apparent.
Weekend Mid April
Turn off all lights – lock down all young birds for 6 weeks. After 2 weeks allow
Liberty for a couple of hours – do not force flying – repeat 2 weeks later.
Morning feed 10% barley – 10% pellets.
Main feed – midday as much moulting mix as they want but remove after ½ hour.
Offer red band or similar.
Only visit to feed and water.
April 25th
Pull 10th flight – if been cut.
Young birds will cast 6th flight.
May 8th
Young birds in very heavy moult and on 7th flight
May 22nd
Young birds on 8th flight.
Still in heavy moult –head-body-tail
Last Weekend of May
End of shut down – allow liberty, but do not force flying for first week.
Then flag if not flying for at least 30 minutes.
June 12th
Young birds on 9th flight. Looking fantastic.
July 1st
Young birds on 10th flight. Body moult complete.
Get them flying at least 1 hour
per day.
When disappearing for long spells start training several short tosses to
start with. Then increase at will (separate) cocks from hens.
July 7th
As many tosses as possible from 10-20 miles.
Allow hens in with cocks every
Saturday for 3-4 hours.
Then separate and feed in own compartment.
July 14th
Young birds should be flying strong up to 2 hours.
Give 4 tosses – 25 miles, 20 miles, 40 miles, 50 miles.
Sat, Sun, Tues, Thurs weather permitting – in batches of 10-15.
From now on keep them flying on a regular basis for at least 1 hour a day
And 2 training tosses from 25 miles.
If not flying well increase training tosses
Amount not distance.
First Race
Feed all young birds 10am. Remove uneaten corn 11am.
12 noon put hens with cocks until you basket for the race – Do Not Disturb
Until just before basketing then quietly observe birds that are in the boxes together.
Repeat for all races.
