Good question. Unfortunately I get swamped as it is for advice which takes me off the main International Website Project – and there is only me at this end! So I cannot open that particular door especially as there are lots of forums about that can cover that area.

So many of the questions are already covered anyway in “The Challenge” and then I find the fancier asking the question already has a copy! Very frustrating and time wasting in such cases.

On the matter of using three year old hens, if you have bred them yourself then you will find that 2 and 3 year old hens are at their peak to feed really well in most cases. Four years old is asking too much, but it can be done.

I have a Grey Green cock BA23-168-05 that has bred magnificently year in year out since 2006 and has amassed 43 chicks in that time – on the perch. Happily, it is still fit and a high quality cock- not anything ordinary. However, were I to sell it (for next to nothing) the chances of it breeding under a different management would reduce its continued breeding rate for certain – so it will stay here and be paired again shortly after rearing 8 chicks already this season!

Pity hens don’t do that! Thank you for your questions.

Gerald

Have you considered having a Q & A section on your website?

What is your feeling towards using 3 year old hens?

Thanks,
Richard Scott
UK