Old breeders

[Joel]

How long can old birds continue to breed? Im sure this age varies but im looking for an average. Also, will an old (lets say a cock bird) produce as high quality young when he's 10 as opposed to when he was in his prime?

Thanks,
Joel

[upcd]

Is this bird having any problems? Or are you thinking of retiring him? What kind is he? The oldest bird in my loft is a 95. If there are no problems let them died happy with a family.

[Keith C.]

My oldest banded bird is a 1996 pied, recessive red homer.
She is almost marked like a white sides. She is the only original homer left from the first nine homers I bought.
I got three clutches from her last year, two doubles and a single. This year her mate, who is also her son, seems to have a new hen, so I do not know if she will reproduce or not.
Keith C.

[halfwatt]

I have a old cock born in 1989 that still fertiles eggs. Geuss it depends on the health and diet. Try to keep care of them, they should breed for a long time.

[lawman]

Originally Posted by Joel

How long can old birds continue to breed? Im sure this age varies but im looking for an average. Also, will an old (lets say a cock bird) produce as high quality young when he's 10 as opposed to when he was in his prime?

Thanks,
Joel

I had a racing homer that lived to be 16 yrs old that still was breeding up untill about 6mos before he died. The last couple of years he would only fill one egg out of each round but he was still very active. All my birds out of his bloodline have lived to be well past 10 yrs old. I have two grandsons to him still, one 9yrs and the other 8yrs old. Both are still very active just like Grandpa and still producing excellant racers every year.

[SmithFamilyLoft]

Originally Posted by Joel

How long can old birds continue to breed? Im sure this age varies but im looking for an average. Also, will an old (lets say a cock bird) produce as high quality young when he's 10 as opposed to when he was in his prime?

Thanks,
Joel

Some strains are stronger then others. Look at the Champion Late Rode 430, a 1989 bird and still producing !!

Check out Late Rode 430 : http://smithfamilyloft.com/Photogallery.htm

[re lee]

IF you consider breeding from proven birds. You look at a beginer breeder being a 3 year old bird. Then you look at it being a 6 year old bird in the breeding loft When you go over its breeding record. Looking at how it has produced. Then you have already or will be starting a family line around it. IF it has become a key breeder. Agin there you look at 3 more years of the program. Now 9 years. Unless it is a top producer its phased out for improved young off it . Or its left to build off. In thatr case. 3 more years. Now 12 years old. Only the best go past this point. And have to be top foundation builders. then You look at in the loft there are very few. That have that age facter. But several that keep the line going. Top lofts world wide will have just a small handful of key birds. Bred over 10 years. And yes some are bred up to 16. BUT they are as I said best in the loft birds. In racing or showing going forward Only the top breeders are ever kept past a 5 to 6 year mark. If not a line goes backwards looseing the edge. And yes those older breeders can be passed to someone else to help improve there line.And have several useful years left.

[lawman]

If you obtain older breeders, at least you have the knowledge that the person you got them from probibly would not have kept them unless they were producing decent youngsters every year. Granted no one is going to get rid of the goose that laid the golden egg. Unless they don't realize what they had. I obtained a breeding hen from a flier (in Idaho) who let go of just such a hen. when I got her she was in pretty bad shape. but a year later, she was ready for the breeding loft and I've obtained top fliers out of her every year since, It hasnt mattered what male bird she was put down too ether. My brother obtained an inbred Van loon male from back east that was pretty much in the same condition as the hen was when I obtained her. Again, we spent a year getting him back into top health and everything out of him, no matter the hen has been top of the line. granted this is the exception rather than the rule. but take your time in picking up birds from outside sources and you'll be amazed at what some people will almost give away. When all the birds need is a little TLC and you'll get top youngsters out of them.