Ex layers
- Thread starter tom
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Foxyboy43
Well-Known Member
When pheasants they were plentiful (remember?) we always bought 1/3 ex-layers and the rest poults. If bought from a reputable supplier you can do well with ex-layers, given tlc they will generally thrive and should give you an early start to your shooting season. Conversely if they have not been looked after well they can be a bit of a disappointment so my advice is to try them but buy with caution.
Phil fox man
Well-Known Member
I used to use ex layers but now only use poults,very hard to find one's well looked after.
but this might help,net pen roof,water minerals and tonic additive,keep a very close eye for disease,worm straight away,wound spray where they have been trod,get the cocks out asap.
I only use poults now as I learnt the hard way,their a lot of worry for very little financial gain.
but this might help,net pen roof,water minerals and tonic additive,keep a very close eye for disease,worm straight away,wound spray where they have been trod,get the cocks out asap.
I only use poults now as I learnt the hard way,their a lot of worry for very little financial gain.
badbob
Well-Known Member
To be successful you need to look after them on release as much as poults but for longer. You will get 6 times as many hens as cocks. You will get an embarassing number of eggs laid in the pen. Eating wise they may be old tough and dry.
They may survive predation from buzzards sparrow hawks better than poults which are very vulnerable.
On the other hand you can just release them and not bother but returns will be very low.
Poults should give 25 to 50 percent return. Ex layers 0 to 20 pecent return.
For both , the secret is a large sunny secure release pen with lots of ground cover, and low and high roosting. Regular daily feeding.
They may survive predation from buzzards sparrow hawks better than poults which are very vulnerable.
On the other hand you can just release them and not bother but returns will be very low.
Poults should give 25 to 50 percent return. Ex layers 0 to 20 pecent return.
For both , the secret is a large sunny secure release pen with lots of ground cover, and low and high roosting. Regular daily feeding.
Phil fox man
Well-Known Member
I must admit the one thing I miss is all the eggs,great in omelettes,cakes and other cooking as well as you will never get an infection or worms in 
sir-lamp-alot
Well-Known Member
I uses to put down a few exlayer on one of my permission in some netted pen sections after only a couple of days all the cock birds were removed to give the hens a rest and after a couple of weeks i would open up a corner and let the hens come and go as they wished. You will need to wean then off layers pellets slowy and the risk of disease will be high. I did find that they were easier to look after by far than poults as they are already "street smart" and will happily find there own way you will also see a large amount of "wild" broods but dont be fooled like most wild broods very few if any will make it to adult hood. They did hold to some degree but I was happy to let them wander as I only used to put them down as a token gesture to the neighbouring shoots for the couple of walk arounds I used to do a year
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