[Walter swanston]

After reading an article in this week`s Racing Pigeon (page 48) I am beginning to doubt the value or advantage of separating the cocks and hens during the winter.I wonder what the opinion of experienced fanciers on this site might be.

[geordie1234]

Well I know I would be a lot happier getting my leg over in the dark nights than no lol

[ALF]

THIS IS THE 1ST YEAR THAT I HAVE'NT SEPERATED THEM AND TO BE HONEST THEY LOOK GREAT I TOOK ALL THE NEST PANS OUT THE MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER AND ONLY 1 HEN HAS LAID SINCE THEN BUT I WILL SPLIT THEM FOR A WHILE JUST NOT SURE WHEN NOW

[geordie1234]

Was told that thru the winter there sexual organs shrink and they lose interest thru the winter my doos never got split last year and only one hen laid

[billt]

I always pick my pairs so much easier for me to separate

[lanarkshire lad]

I separate the sexes as soon a possible every year.

[ovy1255]

when i do pair up i like all birds to get on with it and lay at the same time so i can swop eggs,so for me i seperate .
also if i want to change the pairing its easier if the birds have been seperated.

[chad3646]

GEO1234, on 29 October 2011 - 16:42 PM, said:

Was told that thru the winter there sexual organs shrink and they lose interest thru the winter my doos never got split last year and only one hen laid

does your sexual organ no shrink in the winter

[JohnQuinn]

lanarkshire lad, on 29 October 2011 - 18:04 PM, said:

I separate the sexes as soon a possible every year.

Earlier the better for me too Jim.

[geordiejen]

i have found that having both sexes kept together the hens still lay eggs.several weeks ago i removed all nestpans and nestboxes and only have perches in th4e loft.a few hens laid eggs in the corner but after me taking the eggs away i still see the odd tread but no hens laying.im wondering whether to make the large section into 2 sections or not now.

[dal2]

I split right after the last yb race! bringing back in diffo pairs is made easier!

[victorious]

GEO1234, on 29 October 2011 - 16:42 PM, said:

Was told that thru the winter there sexual organs shrink and they lose interest thru the winter my doos never got split last year and only one hen laid

dont know about that them buggers of mine lay like battery hens could be the mild weather ther doing my head in ive never ever split them but iam thinkin bout trying it i wonder does it really do them any harm layin i have chickens they lay every day it does them no harm o and the pigeons still win the following season as well so does anybody really know.

[Tony C]

Last year my stock were never split, just moved them over into a different loft with slope back perches (no boxes). Put them back over into their own loft the same time as I paired up my racers (which were split) and all stock laid out the same time as the racers. What did happen was one pair of stock took over the floor and yes the hen laid out but this pair stopped all the others from trying to pair up in the corners, chasing them back up to the perch.

[IB]

GEO1234, on 29 October 2011 - 16:42 PM, said:

Was told that thru the winter there sexual organs shrink and they lose interest thru the winter my doos never got split last year and only one hen laid

Yes, that's my understanding too, to do with the lessening daylight hours.

Only left the pigeons paired up once back when I was a teenager - one of the hens laid in December - so never again.

Hens also have a finite number of eggs from the day they hatch out, so IMO the fewer that goes to waste means the more years breeding you'll get out of her.

And I change most of my pairs every year, so splitting them after the last YB race makes re-pairing in February that bit easier.