Do any of you give oral to females during heat?

[Resident Hyaena]

Female Birds, depending on kind, age and geographic latitude, may have an estrus period, but not like a Mammalian "heat": they do not shed a uterine lining or placenta, but rather will lay an infertile egg or clutch. They will have a dilated vent and perhaps have elevated moisture, but never blood or bad odor.




Birds in higher or "temperate" latitudes tend to have a seasonal estrus, while many of those in the lower or "tropical" latitudes may be in condition any time of the year.




Laying hen Chickens have been bred to essentially be in continuous estrus, to produce eggs in commercial quantities for as long as possible. The diurnal illumination, or photoperiod is largely responsible for determining the onset and duration of estrus in wild Birds. Therefore, commercial laying flocks are kept under timed lights to simulate tropical sunlight and help maintain or boost their egg production.




When she wants to be bred, a hen Chicken will crouch down with tail towards you, half extend her wings, and rapidly "stomp" the ground for about a second or so.




But when they do that "dance", they are expecting an immediate response from the male. So I must act instantly, or they will immediately lose interest (a behavior left-over from their wild ancestors, which needed to complete mating in seconds, to minimize risk of predation during that vulnerable time)




So when they solicit,  I immediately pick her up and give her oral pleasure. Once the oral has begun though, they are usually more than willing to extend the time well beyond what is normal for the Rooster.




Turkeys are a bit slower and a lot heavier. So I have more time to get down to the ground in order to "get down" with them! They also last a lot longer, often more than ten minutes!




As they age though, estrus will ebb and egg production will drop. But even before this, the "finished" commercial layers will be "retired" as per schedule, and be kibbled into pet, livestock, or fish food, and feathers for pillows & jackets.




Mine is a small backyard flock, consisting entirely of aged hens retired from other backyard flocks. A kind of Chicken "retirement home".




They still produce a few eggs, and some may still be "interested", but currently only one still solicits, and so she is the only one I am now "servicing".




But all get what they need for whatever remains of their life to be healthy and comfortable. One very old one just went two days ago.




I have "come to terms" with death from aging, but it never gets any easier. All I can do is give them what I can for whatever time they may have left.






Resident Hyaena ^..^