I checked a few of the eggs today to see if they had started to develop. There is no blood in them. I'm assuming that my roosters arn't doing their job. Could the problem be that the roosters arn't on the same cycle as the hens because of how early they started to lay? I would really like to collect the eggs from our birds this year to incubate the eggs but i'm concerned about the fertility (we don't have many funds left to be able to go out and buy more eggs this year). I am considering putting lamps on the birds and moving them into the shed alone. I'm looking for some insight into this. I am collecting 8 eggs a day and I have 10 hens. If you all think that my hens will continue to lay through the spring and summer I won't worry about it, because the roosters and hens should eventually be cooperating. What to you think... you all have a ton more experience with this than I do and I never studied any bird physiology during college that will help me any either. Thanks
As to what wilder gamebirds has mentioned:
Others know a lot more about Pheasant, but until I learn different, my suggestion would be to shut the light off. Use a baseboard heater (or similar) to keep an area in the shed above zero if you have to please Gladys Kravitz.
Save their egg production for when you need it. Artificial lighting can stretch the number of eggs they produce, but it's sure not unlimited. It is possible that the males have not been sufficiently stimulated, but I would bet your problem is related to the cold.
along with Reeves:
Could be like Wilder said. It doesn't take long for a newly layed wet egg to cool off in temps 40f and below. Below 40f the fertility will drop right off.
But it's more than likely the males are not "in season", as mentioned.
Steve may be able to help you out with eggs later this season ?
Lots of Ring neckers around.....
I talked about this in another topic as well.
My experience, again your mileage my vary.. Depending on when
the original eggs were hatched will depend on when the time the mature hens will start laying. If they were hatched in January they will start to lay in January or February of the following year. This is fine if you are located in the warmer climates. The reasons being: Ring-necked Pheasants (males) mature in 20 weeks to full color this includes the females as well. The hen cycle is usually after the first year cycle being in the spring.
The males may be ready to breed and the female receptive as well during the first 12 months. The likely hood of the female(s) being fertile is another question. Ambient temperatures and lighting, being natural or manmade plays an important roll.
Here in WV, when I look for purchasing eggs or chicks or even adult birds for the purpose of replenishing my stock, I will specifically look for the dates that they have been hatched. The reasons being outside temperatures here are either below freezing or not remaining above 40 to 50 degrees during Jan, Feb, and March. Any of my new purchases of any of the listed above would have to have a born date, or egg date for the months of Mid May, June, July. Mid July being the latest of purchases for me for production purposes. This way I know when they will start to lay, and adjust my production accordingly.
My birds start laying in Mid March and those are less then 50% fertile. My 90-95% fertility rate kicks in, in mid May. I get from Mid May through the end of July with 90% of my eggs before the molt season kick in and then the egg production comes to an end until the next year. Those birds that lay earlier in the season naturally molt earlier as well, and I haven’t had any of those hen produce eggs either after the molt. So I would venture to guess that the natural cycle of the Ring-necked hens would be no more then 3-months of egg laying in a normal setting.
You can continue to force a hen to lay during this period by removing her egg each day. The maximum number of eggs I have retrieve from one hen in a 3 month period was 75.
In the wild, the Ring-necked hen will only hold a clutch of 10-13 eggs. Depending on the climate and predators factor, if the nest is lost, she may still decide to brood a second time, a third time is rare, but can still happen if the conditions are right.
So in all essence and practicality, the Ring-necked hen(s) laying season of eggs would be no more then 30-39 eggs per season.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the Ring-necked Pheasant hen will remain fertile up to 10 days after she has been mated. Also keep in mind that the hen will lay even if the male hasn't mated with her, which may be the event that has taken place at this present time.
I don’t know if this has answered any of your questions since I just kept rambling on once I had started typing, and may have gotten of your topic.
Steve
Pheasant Hollow Farm