Decided this weekend that the weather was finally done with the brutal cold and moved the birds back into the suspended breeding cages. One mistake I made this year is I kept too many males over winter – feed cost I didn’t need to spend. Ended up with 4 females and 6 males, since I keep the 2:1 had a few extra bachelors.
Since I was short females and to diversify the gene pool I ordered some eggs off eBay. It was almost a bad situation since I didn’t account for my travel schedule, they came one day before I left. Which actually works well as they can incubate while I am gone. Hopefully in 17 days I will be at full capacity for the summer.
My hope this year is too focus more on meat production. Have to wait and see how quickly I can cycle them through the incubator and brooder.
Bunny update: my existing doe had a litter of 6 last week, 5 made it. I seem to loose one right off the bat with each litter. Hopefully the other two does I kept from the first litter last fall are pregnant and will have litters in two weeks.
UPDATE: birds started laying last week while I was gone. Took about a week and half after I put them back on 12-14 hours of light a day.