Breeding Pekin Bantams – A Guide to Artificial Insemination

Introduction
Artificial insemination (AI) in poultry does not seem as talked about in the UK as else where in the world. It is a practise that requires dedication but brings with it many advantages which could increase success when compared to natural matings:

• Pekins with very broad, round bodies and short legs often have difficulty in mating (the males “roll off” the females)
• Because Pekins have a lot of fluff around the cushion / vent area it is often necessary to clip the feathers with a pair of scissors. This spoils the bird for showing until it has moulted.
• Sometimes when a male appears to be “hearty” he can become lazy and not actually mount the females. With AI you are able to get another season from males such as this.
• You can be sure that all females are fertilised and the cockerel is not ignoring certain ones.

There is little to learn about the way AI works – the principal behind it is very straightforward although the actual method of carrying out the procedure can take a little getting used to. Depending on who you ask you will find numerous methods and recommendations on equipment needed but they all boil down to the same thing. The best time to AI the birds is midday as extreme changes in temperature can make them stressed.

Method
Preparation and checks – the male:
The male you want to use should be prevented from having any physical contact with the females in the days leading up to AI, although if possible should be able to see them. A wire pen much like the ones used at shows placed inside the females’ pen works very well. Check him over for lice and mites around the vent and make sure he is relaxed – before catching him approach the pen slowly and catch him without any sudden moves, if he has to be chased to catch him it is probably best to put him back and wait for a few hours before trying again.

Procedure – the male:
If you are right handed it is easiest to hold the cockerel in the left hand, with his head facing your body and the keel resting in your palm. Using your right hand rub his back downwards towards his tail with your palm, this stimulates him and after one or two rubs you should see the male parts ( or more specifically his copulatory organ) start to extrude. Using your thumb and first finger very gently squeeze each side from his body downwards and slightly to one side (normally the right). This should be done in a “milking” motion. The image below shows the male with the semen ready to be taken using a pipette.

The semen should then start to flow and is now ready to be collected. Using a small pipette of around 1ml to 2ml in diameter gather the semen from the vent area – you should be able to get around 3 or 4 drops from one attempt. A spoon can be used but I find a pipette is easier to use when it comes to the female.

You can now return the male to his pen and leave him alone for a day or so. It is possible to collect semen every 2 days from the same male, some males can produce again after 24 hours but this is not always the case.

Procedure – the female:
The female should be treated very delicately and handled slowly with care so as not to stress her. Compared to the male, this is a relatively quick and easy part. Take her out of the pen and hold her in your left hand with her head down and tail facing up towards you. Gently hold pull her tail over her back which exposes the vent area. Taking the pipette in your right hand carefully drip the semen into her. Once she feels it make contact the muscles around the vent will contract and almost “suck” the semen inside her oviduct.

Continue to hold her for another minute or so until all the semen has gone and then she can be returned to her pen.

I would recommend doing at least two times a week – more if possible. After around the third day after inseminating the hen her fertility will start to fall.

Helpful notes:
• The egg shell takes approximately two days to be formed around a yolk. Given that the first yolk released may not be have quite had time to be fertilised it is advisable to wait an extra day. Therefore after the third day of inseminating the hen her eggs should be fertile and OK to save for incubating.

• When holding the birds it is easier if you can sit down on a chair and have your pipette next to you on a table for easy access.

• Large, vigorous birds are excellent to practise on. Pekins are small and can be rather fiddly due to the amount of fluff they carry. Leghorn males prove very useful to practise on.

• It is possible for a male to never produce any semen although somewhat rare. If you are not having any luck with a particular male it could be that he is stressed and uncomfortable being handled.

By Simon Gambling, 2009