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klorinth
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Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
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Fostering for a Newbie
Ok. I have been sitting around reading and learning but this is one area where i feel like I am lacking in understanding.
Becuase i am totally new to the pigeon idea I have asked a couple of the local guys about getting a couple of pairs of Homers, or maybe a type of roller. These would be for learning purposes. I need to learn everything.
I do want to end up with OR's though. I like the looks of your typical blue bar Homer, but I would rather fly the OR's.
Since Kelly is the only guy I could get birds from I have the issue of only being able to get one or two pairs from him when I am ready, and that is if he has enough for all of us. So it is going to be hard for me to get going.
Some of you have talked about using Fosters to produce as many yb's as possible if you only have a couple of pairs. This seems to be what I need to look at. So here comes the questions...
At what point is a pair ready to start fostering? What age? After 2 hatches of their own? More? Less?
What is the timeline for fostering? I have read about the difficulty of timing. Do they need to both lay eggs at almost the same time? Then switch out the foster eggs?
Would two pairs of fosters be enough for two pairs of OR's?
Are there any particular breeds that I should look at starting with, with the intention of using them as fosters?
Any other thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks guys 
Last edited by klorinth, 4/30/2009, 2:15 pm
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"If there is a way to overcome the suffering, then there is no need to worry; if there is no way to overcome the suffering, then there is no use in worrying." Shantideva
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4/30/2009, 2:13 pm
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Socorro
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Re: Fostering for a Newbie
The homers and rollers you may aquire first for learning would be good for fostering ORs.
I put a pair of Donek down fostering the first time I let them set on eggs.They were born early last year but I've had birds lay eggs and set them at 5 months of age.
5 days difference is about the max but 3 days is better,with the fosters laying after at 5 days difference and feed pellets instead of grain for some time before hatching day.
It is better if you have 2 pairs of fosters for each pair of ORs but one will be a help.If you have 2 pairs each,with the 3rd round let the ORs set their own eggs.
Feel free to call me on the telephone if you like.My number is below.
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4/30/2009, 4:04 pm
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klorinth
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Re: Fostering for a Newbie
Thanks Kelly!
So...
Two pairs of whatever to start out with. Breed these and learn as much as I can.
While doing this start arranging to get a couple pairs of OR's.
By the time I can get the OR's I should have doubled or tripled my original birds. This will give me lots of foster pairs to work with.
Certainly does show how fast pigeons can reproduce if you don't control them. 
I guess that is the reason for the culling discussions on some of the European forums. 
Feed Pellets... what kind are you talking about? I have found a couple of places that carry different feed mixes for pigeons, etc. I haven't seen pellets though, just seed/grain/corn/pea mixes, both whole and cracked. Are you talking about a poultry feed? Turkey starter? Non medicated of course.
Is there any way to encourage similar lay schedules? Lighting control?
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"If there is a way to overcome the suffering, then there is no need to worry; if there is no way to overcome the suffering, then there is no use in worrying." Shantideva
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4/30/2009, 5:06 pm
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Socorro
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Re: Fostering for a Newbie
If you can have 2 pair of fosters for every pair of breeders that is the ideal in my opinion.You can conceivably get 6 young(3 sets) in about a month from one pair of breeders using 2 pair fosters.The closer the young are in age when training them the better.
If you're not going to be ready till next year there should be no problem getting a couple pair to you.I have 4 pair of ORs down breeding now and hope to have more soon.
Pigeon pellets are about the same as hen layer pellets.The birds will eat them(even tho the pellets are larger than any grain) if that is all you give them,but they do prefer grains.Cracked grains aren't the best for pigeons the grains can get spoiled easier if they are cracked and I've read cracked corn can cause canker in pigeons.
The way to get the breeders and fosters all on the same schedule is put the hens in with the cоcks all at the same time,wait till they have all laid their first 2 eggs then take all the eggs away and in 10-12 days all should lay again but real close to the same time.
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Rum:30 Lofts
Gabriola Island,B.C.,
Canada.
Ed FORS Newsletter
islanddoves@telus.net
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4/30/2009, 10:11 pm
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klorinth
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Re: Fostering for a Newbie
I am controlling myself so far and waiting until next year before thinking about getting any birds. I want to try and get everything, including myself, ready for them. I did manage to go to an auction last month and not buy any, although I saw some nice looking birds. The Archangels were the nicest. Wonderful colour. Couldn't get a good pic though.
There is still that risk when I go to another sale in September. Hopefully I can get the chicken coop up and distract myself with those.
I really appreciate the offer Kelly. I will probably take you up on it. Just not until next year.
I can see i will need a decent sized loft with at least two sections to it. I can just see the look on my wife's face when I try to brooch this subject.
Although she did just ask me to look into building her an horse style arena in the back. 60'x100'...  sigh... That is one big building! She wants to play with the dogs when the weather isn't all that nice. Five minutes later she was complaining about my spending habits!
Back to the topic at hand. Couple pairs of breeding birds to be used as fosters to each pair of OR's. How much can/should you push them? 3 rounds to max it out then rest? How long a rest? I guess it also depends on how much space there is to work with. Not to mention what it is you are doing with the birds.
How many birds do people maintain? If you have your stock breeding birds, young birds, and... unpaired birds? Performing Birds? Do you keep some as breeding birds that no longer are flown? Or do people continue to fly their breeding stock?
I'm just thinking about how fast you would be able to increase flock size if you are using fosters. It would be very easy to get too big too fast.
I know this is where using dummy eggs and culling comes in. Although I don't see how culling would be a good idea if you are still flying your breeders. It would just wear them out to be flying and breeding regularly. They would need a break from one or the other. If you kept your breeding birds only in a loft and flew the young, then you could cull as needed. Weed out poor performers and replace older breeders with young top performers.
Oh God... I'm seeing the record keeping now! I'll need to get a new pedigree program.
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"If there is a way to overcome the suffering, then there is no need to worry; if there is no way to overcome the suffering, then there is no use in worrying." Shantideva
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5/1/2009, 6:19 pm
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windjammer loft
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Re: Fostering for a Newbie
This "fostering" issue can be a touchy subject in so far as getting the right ones, timing of the eggs being laid and age of the birds being used. I have used "fosters" in the past. Many years ago when I was into racing. But,things seemed to be much different back then,compared to nowadays. Since I have been in to the "aerial performing birds" for the past 5 years, the "fostering" method has not worked for me at all. Iam not sure if it's the breed of birds that I now have, or what. I tried using my white homers for fosters with the performing birds this time. But,to no avail
this system doesn't not work for me. So,my philosophy from now on in "not" to use them at all. I'll let nature take it's course with my breeders and let them do all the raising of youngsters. It may take alittle more time that's all. Just my own thoughts.
Last edited by windjammer loft, 5/9/2009, 5:14 am
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5/9/2009, 5:10 am
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klorinth
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Re: Fostering for a Newbie
Paul,
Are you saying that you did not have successful hatches? Or is the performance of the young lower than expected?
What happened?
Part of my asking about fostering is to find out about the pitfalls of doing. The risks. I find the idea a little risky just from a physical stand point. Seems to me it would be hard on the laying pair. If I only have a couple pairs of OR's at the beginning, I can't put them at risk.
On the flip side is the fact that it will not be easy for me to get OR's in the first place, and that will not change any time soon. Those of us in Canada are going to have very limited access to new birds for a long time. If fostering can help with that then maybe it is worth it.
Last edited by klorinth, 5/13/2009, 7:01 pm
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"If there is a way to overcome the suffering, then there is no need to worry; if there is no way to overcome the suffering, then there is no use in worrying." Shantideva
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5/13/2009, 5:52 am
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klorinth
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Re: Fostering for a Newbie
Sorry. Repeat.
Last edited by klorinth, 5/13/2009, 7:01 pm
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"If there is a way to overcome the suffering, then there is no need to worry; if there is no way to overcome the suffering, then there is no use in worrying." Shantideva
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5/13/2009, 5:53 am
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Snake Doctor
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Re: Fostering for a Newbie
I think Paul is right about getting the right birds as fosters, some birds just flat do a better job of parenting than others!
My four pairs of fosters are Jackonette's and they would try to raise a golf ball if I put one under them.
I have one particular pair of BR's that were really good in the air before I pulled them to breed, but they have given me all kinds of trouble in raising on their own, to the point where I don't trust them to raise, take the eggs and put them under one of the foster pairs.
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5/13/2009, 10:00 am
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klorinth
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Re: Fostering for a Newbie
So... How do you choose fosters? This may be a silly question, but I need to ask it anyway.
Do you base the decision on their parenting success? Or are there certain types that are simply better? I don't want to have to try multiple breeds just to find some good ones for fostering. I will have limited space to start with.
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"If there is a way to overcome the suffering, then there is no need to worry; if there is no way to overcome the suffering, then there is no use in worrying." Shantideva
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5/13/2009, 7:10 pm
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