|
The Original All Roller Talk Discussion Board Archive >
Rolldown v bumper
Rolldown v bumper
Page:
1
Shaun
77 posts
Aug 10, 2005
12:46 PM
|
In my brief time, I've not had the joyous spectacle of a lawn dart. However, I have one bird, about 4 to 5 months old, which isn't in control as it should be. As it lands, it might flip a little late and hit something like foliage nearby - though not too drastically. Sometimes, as it enters the loft with the others, it might not be a 'clean' entry because its involuntary movement means it briefly (but not too hard) hits the deck on the way in. It otherwise seems fine, no matter what it fails to avoid on the way down from a fly or the way into the loft as I let them in through the open door.
It reminds me of the owl, Errol, belonging to the Weasley's in the Harry Potter films. Is that an obscure observation?
So, my question is this: Is there any correlation between the Kamikaze pigeon which has no control whatsoever and which, in all probability, will ultimately kill itself, and the Errol type which in all other respects is fine, but which is missing something in the overall control department?
Shaun
|
Alohazona
39 posts
Aug 10, 2005
11:38 PM
|
Shaun,the type of bird you are descibing,sounds like a chronic bumper,there is a small chance that the bird in question has an internal sickness,take a look down its throat and see if there is any stringy mucous that might indicate a phsyical problem,if the bird is phsysically healthy and bumping on a consistant basis,I would consider the bird sick and should be destroyed.
Shaun,there is no pleasure that I can think of by keeping a bird that chronically bumps,most of them do not kill themselves right away and continue to hurt and mame themselves,Frankly,I find them to be an ambarassment to my stock and what I want from my birds,this is just my opinion.ALOHA,Todd
|
Bluesman
Pigeon Fancier
412 posts
Aug 11, 2005
2:25 AM
|
Shaun.If this bird is very active in the air it could be just very tired.As Todd said pull it out and check for illness.Worm it if needed.Feed it up a couple of days to see if that helps.A lot of my young birds can hardly land they are so tired.Their wings are hanging down and their legs are weak.I usually stand with them when they are like this and let them cool down some and rest before allowing them to trap.A really tired bird wil not get its share of the feed given to the kit and it will show the next time out.Just some thoughts before culling.As I said before these rollers are unpredictable and there is a reason for everything they do.When we have exhausted every symptom and still no solution then it is time to Cull.David
|
Shaun
79 posts
Aug 11, 2005
9:18 AM
|
Thanks guys, but I have to give the bird more time because in all other respects, it's absolutely fine. It flies well, behaves well, baths with all the others and feeds well. It doesn't bump all the time - just the odd landing or entry into the loft. It isn't hard bumping either, more an involuntary action. Because I'm such a coward when it comes to killing my birds, I prefer to hope that what Brian said to me about this possibly being temporary, is the case. Part of Brian's response was as follows, which I think might be of wider interest to guys out there:
"A bumper is often a young bird which is having a hard time learning to deal with the roll and will sometimes go into a roll when flying low, taking off or landing, and hit the ground or loft roof. This is usually a stimulus thing, which is why we see it happen so often when taking off or landing. Some of these birds work through it and never do it again after learning how to control themselves while others just never get the hang of it and like a roll down, will eventually hurt or kill themselves."
Shaun
|
Bluesman
Pigeon Fancier
414 posts
Aug 11, 2005
1:12 PM
|
Shaun.4 or 5 years ago someone(I think from Canada)told me that he kept a kit of Culls around to put up in the air first so the Hawks could chase them around untill the Hawk tired or took one and it helped save his good birds.Good Idea.
I had no problem getting a kit of Culls together before long and started putting them up for the Hawks.There was 11 Culls.Would you believe that 7 of the 11 turned out to be good rollers.The Hawks got one.So much for my Culling.
I raise quite a few rollers but my Culls are kept around and flown by themselves untill I weed thru them.I have learned a lot about rollers just by studying Culls.David
|
big al
79 posts
Aug 12, 2005
12:38 AM
|
My opinion is rather simple.
If the bird flys, kits, works well with the team then keep flying it and don't worry about occassional bumps. However if this is a genetic trait that's strong in that family, this bird and subsequent offspring will keep bumping and some will eventually cull themselves. Under those circumstances splitting up the pair could be an option unless it would bother you to do so. ----------
Big Al
"High Plains Spinner Loft"
Last Edited by big al on Aug 12, 2005 12:46 AM
|
Riaan
16 posts
Aug 12, 2005
3:18 AM
|
Hi Shaun
I had a cock that rolled down when he was 8 months old,but after that never again.Today he's one of my stock cocks.
Such an execellent producer my friends already nicknamed him "the 58 cock".I know that the 58 cock is "warm".So every time I pair him,I pair him with a hen with brains.In every loft you should have pigeons that break and pigeons that chase.
Your friend in the sport
Riaan
|
Shaun
82 posts
Aug 12, 2005
11:27 AM
|
Today was a strange day. I've been fed up this week watching my kit of 10 birds going mostly round and round in circles, without much performance. I've tweaked their feed without any difference. But, they are going through the moult, so I'm trying to be patient.
I cut the feed back a little last night, then let them out this morning. Jeez, I nearly wet myself. What a difference.
Whilst the whole kit did well, my bumper performed an astonishing 'blur' roll of substantial depth (I counted 2 seconds minimum), but it was safely at a good height, so It was just jaw-dropping to watch. And, it was straight back to the kit.
It was only a few days ago that one of my others did this, so now I have 2 out of my 5 Mason birds in my small flying kit, which are now showing me what these birds are capable of. As ever, this particular bird bumped on the way into the loft, but is none the worse for it. I am absolutely in awe of this phenomenon (the blur roll, not the bump on the way in).
I think if I saw a number of birds doing this at the same time, I would faint. This is on a par with sex...
Shaun
|
rollerpigeon
Site Moderator
341 posts
Aug 12, 2005
9:34 PM
|
Shaun, if you are willing to put up with the antics and take a wait and see position, go for it. How you choose to invest your time and effort will produce results of some kind, only then will you know if it is worth working with birds like this or not.
----------
FLY ON! Tony Chavarria
Last Edited by rollerpigeon on Aug 12, 2005 9:34 PM
|
Riaan
17 posts
Aug 14, 2005
10:34 PM
|
Hi Shaun
How long do u wait for the MASONS to get them to come into the roll.I'm busy crossing the birds it's very important,I need to know.
Your friend in the Sport
Riaan
|
Shaun
88 posts
Aug 16, 2005
7:14 AM
|
Riaan, The five of George's which I'm flying, came into the roll very early - no more than about 3 months old. Two of the five have got better and better (but one's a bumper), whilst the other three are no more than average.
They're now about 5 months old.
Shaun
|
Riaan
18 posts
Aug 16, 2005
7:50 AM
|
Hi Shaun
Thanks alot for the infomation you send me.
I am very impressed, I can't wait to put the babies in the air[some new colours in my family]
Your friend in the Sport
RIaan
|
Post a Message
|
|
|