Phantom1
78 posts
Jan 10, 2006
1:27 PM
|
I would like some feedback on what the best or most common method is for training a young bird kit. I have heard stories of people using methods all the way across the spectrum. For example, there was one guy here in Texas that would turn the birds out wearing one color of ball cap, and the birds wouldn't come down until he put another ball cap on. I've also heard of taking a PVC pipe with a black trash bag attached to the end of it. Turn the birds out, put the pole up, and take it down when it's time for the birds to come down.
So aside from the basics of putting a cage on the landing board for the birds to get used to looking outside and trap training, are there any other concepts that you all put to use and how effective are they?
Yours in the hobby,
Eric
|
motherlodelofts
529 posts
Jan 10, 2006
7:04 PM
|
Eric it is pretty simple for me , first I want them to know the kitbox is thier home which they learn as I'm weaning them,then I pin the door open and let the bolder ones work thier way out, once many know thier way in and out ,then I put the less adventurous or slower maturity wise on the roof , the ones that already know thier way in and out make it easier for the ones on the roof to find thier way in (monkey see monkey do)this is done over a period of a week more or less depending on maturity .
I allways train late afternoon when I can keep an eye on them after work.
Once the sun starts going down they want to find thier perch.
After a week or so of this some are doing short loops, when I think that they are mature enough to fly I might make a swipe with a flag , just enough for them to lift up and to feel thier wings and light back down on the loft (don't try to push them ).
The more mature one's may fly around which is good, the next day I will do the same and more will get a little bolder and confident, the one's that are behind as far as maturity will hang back,don't push them if not ready.
Once they are airborne and learn to land (which is harder than actualy flying)then you are over the hump, the main thing is to not push them ,when they are ready they will fly.
But as you gain experiance you will learn when it's time to push the slower one's when you think it's time.
Just go easy and start them young before they are strong on the wing, these birds are born to fly so the main thing is them working themselfs up to that point and knowing thier way in and out of the kitbox and knowing that is where thier perch is.
As for bags and hats , no need for me, they know me regardless and they know my feed whistle.
Scott
Last Edited by motherlodelofts on Jan 10, 2006 7:08 PM
|
Phantom1
81 posts
Jan 10, 2006
7:24 PM
|
Hey Scott!
I almost followed your steps to a "T" this past year. I think I'm going to have to move my kit box this year as it's very close to my roof. It's a steep one and they LOVED hanging out by the chimney. The pitch is so high, nothing that I waved would make them budge.
Do you use the cage over the landing board to train them to trap before pinning the door open? That was another hurdle I struggled with last year. I had no cage at the time. Those that trapped ate, those that didn't stayed out all night and all day, and were forced to fly with the kit that evening again.
I'll definitely start giving them a sign this year that it's feed time. I'm assuming you wait until their coming down prior to giving them the cue right? I wouldn't think they'd be able to recognize anything at 200 feet LOL!
Thanks,
Eric
|
motherlodelofts
533 posts
Jan 10, 2006
8:26 PM
|
Eric by all means move it away from your roof, it sounds like it's to close.
Mine is only about 35 ft away or so and the birds never land on it except for a youngster here and there that is just learning but then they are in the trees and everyhing else on those maiden voyages.
Yes I started useing a cage just last year due to I had one that just happened to work once modified, I think it helps but I really didn't have a problem prior to that.
Keep in mind that I'm on the side of a hill with just scrub oaks and a large open are below, in other words it is hard for them to loose sight of the loft.
I really like just pinning the door open and letting them work themselves out, year before last I had a broken leg and I had no other choice but to do that, the birds were a bit stronger than I wanted them and worked great so that is the way I do it now.
They have to know that box as thier home first and foremost.
I don't need to que them, they are like kids wanting dinner,they can see and hear the other birds just fine plus they know the Roof of the loft and are familular with it .
Scott
Last Edited by motherlodelofts on Jan 10, 2006 8:30 PM
|
J_Star
177 posts
Jan 11, 2006
5:06 AM
|
Let me add to what Scott said is that it is best if you train the youngster to land on the roof of the kit box and nowhere else. I was successful in doing that by letting the youngsters stay on the roof for couple of hours every day. When it is time to fly around, they land on the roof of the kit box thinking that is the only safe place to be. When I want to bring my birds down, I trained them to follow the food container. What I mean by that is when I shake the food container; they know it is time to come down on the roof of the kit box. It takes about 5 or so min for them to come down when they see the food container shaken. And as they fly out the kit box like a tornado, they come down the same way.
Jay
|
Phantom1
82 posts
Jan 11, 2006
9:02 AM
|
Thanks guys! I gotta do something, because if I have a repeat of last year my blood pressure is going to make my head explode. Moving my kit box is going to be a challenge. It's hidden behind my breeding loft, which looks like a storage building from the street (corner lot). I'm not supposed to have these guys at all, so finding the balance is always a challenge. Can't wait for my new neighbors behind me to come out and ask me just what the heck I think I'm doing!
I'll try some new tactics this year and report back at some point. I'm sure I'll have many more hurdles and struggles that I could use input on.
Thanks!
Eric
|
Ballrollers
217 posts
Jan 11, 2006
2:42 PM
|
Eric, Get yourself a soccer ball. A few tosses up on the roof when the roof-sitters land will convey to them that the only safe place to light is on the kit box. It breaks them of the habit pretty quickly, but you haave to be consistent. I never allow it when they are learning the ropes. It works great for trees too, unless its an extremely tall one. Depends on your arm! YITS Cliff
|
Velo99
189 posts
Jan 11, 2006
5:23 PM
|
Eric
I have an exercise pen in the front of my yb loft.I also built a screen to put across the door to the pen so they can get a different angle.Before they can fly I start putting them on the landing board a few at a time,and put a few seeds on it. They will aquaint this place with food. They will look thru the trap and mill around trying to find a way back into the loft. I hold then a few feet from the box and let them see the loft and the other birds. Put em on the ground and they usually run right back to it. It is a pre trap training. As they get to where they can fly well enough not to hit the floor too hard I start poking them thru the trap.
Next I put them on the roof of the loft so they can jump onto the landing board. After a few times they realize they are free to fly. When they get to this stage I will take them across the yard and pitch them at the loft roof.
They sit and preen til feeding time, or til I run them back into the loft. Always remember to throw a few seeds in when they are successful in trapping. After a few days of this they will start taking short flights around the yard and house. Landing all over the place then taking off again. I usually only let out 5 or so at a time so I can keep up with them.
YITS and Good Luck
V99
Last Edited by Velo99 on Jan 11, 2006 5:30 PM
|
Bluesman
Pigeon Fancier
626 posts
Jan 12, 2006
3:09 AM
|
I use gallon plastic milk jugs with a couple stones forced in to throw on the house roof.The stones rattling inside the jug as it rolls off the roof works real well.For tree sitters and ground sitters(the ones the chickins don,t chase back up) I use plastic lids from 5 gallon buckets(Joint Compound buckets).The lids fly just like Frisbees.Sometimes I have to wait untill the next wind storm to retrieve some of the lids that hang up in the trees.For hard to break tree sitters a .410 works great.David
|
nicksiders
343 posts
Jan 12, 2006
10:18 AM
|
I think it is a learned behavior......a couple of tennis ball attacks and they stop doing it. Monkey see; monkey do kind of thing. If you are allowing some of your birds to sit in trees the youngsters will too. Just my opinion and that it is all it is worth.
Nick
|
Phantom1
83 posts
Jan 12, 2006
1:40 PM
|
Back to the roof sitters - I have a hard time getting anything to them. Short of me getting a ladder and clinging to the chimney for dear life, I don't have any options. I used to toss a hulla-hoop up in the air or up the pitch of the roof. Easily retained. But balls, jugs, lids, etc. will ultimately roll or slide down, hit my ever so well hidden 4X16 loft between my house and the shared fence with my neighbor, taking a final bounce off that, and going into their yard. I've lost many a good ball that way LOL!
No, I'm going to have to build a new kit loft that will work within the environment that I've got. It'll have to moved far away from where it is now (all of 8 feet from the roof). We'll just have to keep trying new things while I live within the confines of the city. Ahhh, someday I'll be a roller man with my ball cap and overalls, just enjoying the country :-)
Thanks!
Eric
|
Velo99
190 posts
Jan 12, 2006
3:55 PM
|
OK Phantom,
Obviously you have a 12,12 or 14,12 roof. Have you considered cutting in a dormer and using your attic space as a loft? Euro style bro. Just a thought.
V99
|
Shaun
240 posts
Jan 12, 2006
11:59 PM
|
Eric, I had a similar problem a few months ago. My lofts are surrounded by very tall conifers and some birds preferred to land there rather than the loft top. I started by throwing things at them and my aim did become rather well developed. How, I changed this somewhat crude method to something more sophisticated and eminently more successful. I stumbled across a company which does telescopic poles and flags. It's a similar idea to tying the black plastic sack on the end of a stick, but the beauty is in the telescopic part. In essence it's the same thing as a fishing pole, made of fibre glass. They can be made to any length, so I went for 8 metres - about 26 feet. On the end I put a nice Jolly Roger flag. So, now when I let the birds out, I can use the flag unextended - about 5 feet in length - to get them up, should any not go straight up on release. Then as they land, should any birds dare land in the tree near the loft, up goes the extended pole with flag and the bird takes off again.
The vast majority of my birds now land on the loft roof, rather than the trees.
Shaun
|
Phantom1
84 posts
Jan 13, 2006
7:56 AM
|
V99 - Yes, our house is on a corner lot and has the highest elevation in our development. Sucks for roof sitters and hanging Christmas lights! I'll know better next time around as a home buyer! Adding a loft on the second story isn't a bad idea! I'm just concerned on where I'm going to live after I propose the idea to my lovely bride! LOL!!!!
Eric
|