Rest, recovery and the basics: how we care for our breeding birds

When you’re breeding poultry, it’s easy to become focused on genetics, pairings, fertility and hatch rates. But behind every successful breeding program is something much simpler: exceptional everyday care.

At The Poodle And The Hen, our breeding birds get the same attention as every other bird on the farm. On the outskirts of the Southern Highlands in NSW, our birds experience the full swing of an Australian farm environment, and a handful of simple management practices make a real difference across the breeding season.

Get the pen ready before the birds go in

A breeding pen needs to be right before any bird sets foot in it. Before each season begins we check it remains predator proofed, has proper shelter and ventilation, gets a clean layer of fresh bedding and is sprayed for lice in its entirety. 

Give the hens a break

One of the most important things to manage in a breeding pen is the relationship between the hens and the rooster.

Roosters are essential to a breeding program, but repeated mating during a busy season can cause wear, feather loss and, in some cases, injury to the hens. This matters most with young pullets being introduced to a rooster for the first time.

Moulting season is where this starts for us. From late January to late April, we keep our roosters and hens completely separate. It gives the hens time to grow their feathers back without being harassed, and it does both birds good to have some time apart. Distance makes the heart grow fonder, even in a breeding pen.

Outside of moult, we keep giving our hens breaks from the rooster where we can. Rotating birds, separating the rooster for periods of time or simply allowing the hens some time away all give them a chance to rest and recover.

For additional protection, we also use hen saddles. These sit across the hen’s back and protect against feather wear and abrasion from mating.

None of this is about taking the rooster out of the breeding program. It's about managing the flock so the hens stay in good condition throughout the season.

Get them out of the pen

Even our breeding birds benefit from time outside their breeding pen.

Where practical, we give our birds time free-ranging on grass. It's a chance to stretch their legs, move naturally, scratch and forage in the sunshine and it's a welcome change of environment after time spent in a breeding pen.

Then there’s one of the great pleasures of being a chicken: a proper dust bath. Dust bathing is completely natural for poultry and an important part of their daily routine. Access to a suitable dry patch to scratch and dust bathe lets our breeding birds behave naturally and keeps the flock occupied and stimulated.

Don’t underestimate the basics

Good breeding birds still need good basic care.

Once moult has completed, all birds require some extra care to build back their strength and condition. Prior to the breeding pen, we ensure all birds are up to date on worming and are treated for lice and mites. You do not want birds with health issues in the breeding pen. Parasites put birds under stress, reduce condition, and compromise your entire season's results. 

Fresh, clean water needs to be available at all times, especially in warmer weather and a quality, balanced feed forms the foundation of their diet.

An overweight rooster is less agile around the hens and more likely to injure them. An overweight hen can run into egg-laying issues and a higher risk of crushed eggs, and excess fat tends to make birds lazy in the pen and lowers fertility.

Our large breeds like the Sussex get no more than 175 grams of feed a day to hold their shape and we weigh them regularly to keep an eye on condition. An average The Poodle and The Hen Light Sussex rooster sits around 5.2kg in prime condition.

We feed our own layer and breeder blend throughout the breeding season, formulated with a poultry nutritionist to support laying performance, egg quality and the extra demands placed on breeding birds.

We also like to offer protein-rich treats like mealworms alongside their regular feed. Used the right way, they're a great enrichment treat, especially for a flock that's spent the day scratching around the grass.

For larger breeds like Sussex, Orpington and Cochins, we also trim back the feathers around the vent to around 10cm in diameter before the breeding pen. This will make mating easier and keep their reproductive areas cleaner.  We do this carefully with scissors, leaving no more than 5mm of feather. Too much feather left behind creates a sharp pin that can hurt the rooster during mating, and we don't recommend plucking, as this is painful for the bird and can tear the skin. Roosters get their spurs trimmed back too, to reduce the risk of injury to the hens.

The key is not to overcomplicate it. Healthy breeding birds need good nutrition, clean water, space to move, opportunities to behave naturally and regular observation from the people caring for them.

Watch your birds every day

Perhaps the most valuable breeding pen tip is simply to look at your birds every day.

Take the time to notice feather condition, body condition, behaviour and general demeanour. Are the hens looking worn? Is a pullet being over-mated? Is everyone eating and drinking normally? Do the birds have access to shade, sunshine, a dust bathing area and somewhere comfortable to rest?

Good flock management comes down to noticing the small things before they become bigger problems.

For us breeding isn’t simply about producing the next generation. It’s about maintaining a flock that's well cared for throughout the entire process.