big al
136 posts
Oct 05, 2005
11:14 AM
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Question...
We all know that locking youngsters down before they've had a chance to fly and develop can retard their ability to come in at their full potential.
At what age do you feel is too soon to lock down a current flying kit of youngsters? I know some of it depends on how fast a particular family normally comes in, but is there a more general concensus? (Did I spell that right?) LOL!!!
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See you in the roll!
Big Al
"High Plains Spinner Loft"
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
175 posts
Oct 05, 2005
12:42 PM
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IMO, not until they start showing signs of the roll impulse surfacing. I would be leary of locking up birds that are less than six months old for a long term such as winter. But I believe what is more important than those two items is how young were they when they started flying. Some flyers are horrible procrastinators about getting young birds on the wing. The sooner they are flying, the better. I like them to be on the wing when they are still squeaking and show no signs of starting the juvenile molt. I believe that if birds were started young and flown regularly up to say six months of age, these would probably be the best candidates to be able to resume development after a long lay off.
Brian.
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George Ruiz
58 posts
Oct 05, 2005
4:34 PM
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The best kit I ever flew I bred in Sept.and Oct.and I did not fly them until I moved to another house in May the following year 7 months .The birds started to roll in about Augest and out of 41 youngsters approx. 30 turned out ok the rest either rolled down or refused to fly or were out birds .
I did not do this by choice and would never breed after July even though that kit use to smoke!!
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
176 posts
Oct 05, 2005
5:12 PM
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That's pretty amazing George! Seven months with no fly time at all? Dang. Horner sent me some that were about that age that he never flew because of the deal with his dad. I ended up culling the all but one because they either didn't want to fly or didn't want to kit. Good to see others have completely opposite experiences with their birds.
Brian.
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nicksiders
225 posts
Oct 05, 2005
9:10 PM
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I had a stroke and locked my birds down for 5 months until I rehabilitated and even though they were never flown did well in time. They at first would not roll or kit and flew all over the sky at breakneck speed. I kept putting them up at least once a day and they got better as they got back into shape.
If you take the time to get them in shape many of them will come around..........patience. Sometimes we may be too quick to cull. I have even taken a bird that I had as a breeder for years and they eventually got in shape and did fairly good.
Just my 50 cent worth
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highroller
61 posts
Oct 06, 2005
6:43 AM
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I have an '04 hen that did a little rolling last year before lockdown, just enough for me to hold on to her but nothing spectacular. This spring I needed another hen for a trial breeding and used her. After raising 3 rounds I put her back in the kit and she blew me away with tight deep spins like I had never seen from her last year.
Dan
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Sourland
24 posts
Oct 06, 2005
6:49 PM
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I have two '03 late hatch nestmate cocks that were only doing single flips by lockdown. I used them as foster parents in '04, and started flying them at the end of the breeding season. Within a month they became by far the best that I have fast and very deep with excellent control. Needless to say I bred from both of them this year. I was hawked to death until May so their young birds don't have a lot of air time, but several are promising. Hopefully they wil reach their full potential next year like their sires. Today is shutdown day for me. I've lost between one and four birds every time that I've flown for the past two weeks. The birds are scared to death and my blood pressure is riseing. Basically I only had five months in which to fly this year. I've only flown for three years, and every year has gotten worse. Tough to keep going under these circumstances, and I can't conceive of any scenario where I'll ever be able to compete. I'll try flying in a month or so. Hopefully things will improve. Somehow a day just doesn't seem right unless I can fly my birds. Is that addiction?
Wish me luck.--Geo.
Last Edited by Sourland on Oct 07, 2005 9:24 AM
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J_Star
70 posts
Oct 07, 2005
5:07 AM
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Sourland,
This time of year, don't feed your birds for the roll, rather for the exercise. Meaning give them a higher protein mix to give them the edge on the hawks and be able to out run them. When flying them, fly small numbers of them, ten birds or less at a time.
Always stop flying for a week and try again when you have hawk issues. But it appears that the hawk(s) got your number and they wait for you to fly your birds. Good Luck…
Jay
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Sourland
25 posts
Oct 07, 2005
9:23 AM
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Jay, I'm feeding a high protein mix because I've had this problem before and know that my birds must be strong this time of year. Biggest problem is my location. I'm close to the Delaware River which the hawks follow on their migration. In addition, my backyard is 80 feet wide by 120 feet long surrounded by 40 foot trees. In order to land, birds must bank 3 or 4 times while comeing in. Hawks harrass them on the second or third turn. One hawk they can elude. Two or three at a time just wear them down.
Dan, I've considered flying oriental rollers, but have been unable to locate any in central N.J. or within drivingdistance. I've gotten 6 homers from a friend who races quite successfully. I will probably raise several rounds from them to fly next year. Not rollers for sure, but at least something to fly.
Thks, Geo.
Last Edited by Sourland on Oct 07, 2005 9:23 AM
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siddiqir
59 posts
Oct 07, 2005
10:06 AM
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Hello Geo, I am in Harrison, New Jersey. No problem so far. Last year Cooper and Sharp-shinned moved in last week of Oct. Once they are here no fly.
I have red-tail and other hawks attacks here and there but did not lose any thing. They are just too slow to get birds.
What kind of hawks hitting you? I know cooper and Sharp-shinned are not around yet in my area. Are you close to Cape May?
Take a look this URL
http://www.capemaytimes.com/birds/hawkwatch.htm
Look at this numbers (from above website).
Sharp-shinned Hawk = 3,745
Cooper's Hawk = 1,269
I think half of them just stay around in New Jersey until March.
Thanks, -Rauf
Last Edited by siddiqir on Oct 07, 2005 10:09 AM
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siddiqir
65 posts
Oct 07, 2005
11:33 AM
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Hi Geo, I heard that. I think I will be in same situation pretty soon. They are here I guess, well I would need to count fly days now.
Cooper and Sharp-shinned are very aggressive and they get more aggressive when cold hit. Believe or not last year from Dec. - Feb. I see those hawks chasing street pigeons every other day while driving to work.
I have occasion they scared me too as they come so close that they will take my eyes with them. I have heart of hawks from Middle East that they really harm human being and take eyes out when attack human (No joke). Well I need to be careful and you guys too.
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