SJP
29 posts
Apr 11, 2006
4:25 PM
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I have a kit of 05 birds that are kitting very well. However, they look like racing homers. They are flying very fast, through the breaks. For the most part they fly figure eights, and circles. Again, they seem to be racing each other. I recently starting flying this kit because of a serious hawk problem. I am not sure if they are still spooked from the hawks or is it the feed? I am feeding breeder/conditioner (14%) know. I have yet to give wheat/milo/peas. I will be changing over soon. Your thoughts will be appreciated.
Thanks,
SJP
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scotty
26 posts
Apr 11, 2006
11:54 PM
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SJP,I am no expert but what I would do is not fly them in the wind for a while.I have found that my birds fly harder in the wind while training.They get tossed arroud and try to compesate by flying harder.I have noticed with my birds while training they can develope bad habits in the wind.-Scotty
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J_Star
391 posts
Apr 12, 2006
4:30 AM
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SJP, No wonder they are like a flying homer. With that kind of feed at 14% what do you expect. I also suspect they are not flying to the right hight either. You need to change your feed ASAP. Start with Milo first for about 5 to six days. That will bring them to slow down then mix 50/50 Wheat/Milo and occassionally give them peas. After a while you will learn how your birds react to feed and start playing around to adjust.
Jay
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C.J.
105 posts
Apr 12, 2006
5:55 AM
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You have them on crack for birds, or rocket flue. LOL.
C.J.
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Opinionated Blowhard
32 posts
Apr 12, 2006
7:06 AM
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Alot depends on what strain they are. The same feed mixture can have different results with different type of roller. Even one fast flying pigeon can speed up the whole kit. What strain are they. Kevin.
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STARFIRE
38 posts
Apr 12, 2006
11:47 AM
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HI SJP;
I don't think it's the feed that is making them fly too fast.They may be still spooked from the hawks ,or you have a bird or two that is making them fly fast.I would break up the kit for a few days and only fly a few at a time.That way you can see if you have a few birds flying fast or not.If some fly normally, then you know you have a few fast flyers leading them all to fly fast.You will eventually identify the fast birds and keep them out for awhile.Once the kit starts to fly normally.you can add them back one at a time(if theres more than one).
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STARFIRE
Stan Arnold
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
470 posts
Apr 12, 2006
1:08 PM
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Go down and get yourself a bag of barley and a box of #6 12 gauge shells. Feed um barley for a week, lock them up and don't fly them for a week and add some epson salt to their water for a day or two. Then release them two at a time until they are all out. Once they have regrouped, if they are still flying fast like racing homers, pull the plug out of your pump and pack it full of magic potion #6 solution rectifiers. Surgically removed the lead bird and continue until they stop flying fast or don't want to come back home..LOL.
If they are '05 pigeons and still flying like freaks, and have always pretty much flown like freaks, they will be tough to crack.
Brian.
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kcfirl
15 posts
Apr 13, 2006
8:46 AM
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Put em on stright wheat for 2 weeks. IF that doesn;t slow them down - try milo.
Feeding a mix may be what's doing it.
KEn firl
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motherlodelofts
729 posts
Apr 13, 2006
9:23 AM
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That is how I do it KEn , takes about four days to see the effect, Milo I will use if I am short on time before a fly and the birds are strong..
Scott
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Fr.mike
146 posts
Apr 13, 2006
1:04 PM
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Hey All--So when do you switch from mix to wheat/milo--my birds have been in the air for about two weeks.They are just starting to get together(as apposed to looking like a small swarm of bees) I try to fly them twice a day weather permitting.Today on there second time out they just sat on the kitbox and suned themselves for about 40 min.--I only gave them a tiny bit of seed on the mourning fly.they seem to be molting so I kept them on the mix 12%NC--but todays little show makes me think they are ready for the wheat/milo diet.They have been flying very fast.just wanted your input--I dont want to switch to soon-but I dont want Hommers either !
Mike
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Bluesman
Pigeon Fancier
729 posts
Apr 13, 2006
1:56 PM
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Mike.If you are talking about young birds you better just cut back the feed some.Wheat/Milo is good for older kit birds but will destroy a kit of squeakers.In my family anyway.
Did your kit drink water between flys today?Water will keep them down if they loaded up between flys.Did you flag them to get them off the roof?David
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motherlodelofts
731 posts
Apr 13, 2006
3:35 PM
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Mike Dave it right , I never feed straight wheat when they are young.
I want them to grow physcaly and mentally , at the age that you are talking about they get all they can eat , and I don't care if they mill around a bit on the roof.
Once they are kitting and flying solid I will cut them back enough to trap quickly.
Normally once the roll starts hitting the bulk of them at around 5 mo. I'll start slowing them down with short bouts of straight wheat but still give them mix a couple days a week.
I don't care what they do up to that point as long as they are flying the time.
Keep in mind that this is how I handle "my" birds and my not apply to yours, straight wheat isnt for all families.
Scott
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Velo99
365 posts
Apr 13, 2006
5:58 PM
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I had remedial squeaker training today. They have been learning some bad habits, like landing on the ground and picking at the dirt and seed. I put them out in the pen all day. It was kinda warm today. when I got home around four they were ready for a drink. Trap=drink no fuss no muss all trapped.
About 7:00, I went out to feed them and we played the trap game with a little twist. I loaded them in the crate and carried them to the center of the yard. I dropped a few seeds in the crate and created a small riot. I teased them with the feed trough for a few minutes, opened the crate and put the tray in,closed the door,put down the landing board,and watched them all trap except one.
He is the culprit. The Navarro bird. He is too smart for his own good. He gets under the kitbox and eats the seed spilled by the kit. He also found a hiding spot. He was out for most of two days,concurrently. Eating under the box at his leisure while his mates were watching him. As soon as I let them out they all went under and.....
He was the first in his class to trap and do everything else, he is a smart bird.
He will get a bit more remedial training and special attention.
You guys forget the rule, you are in charge not the birds. Even weaning squeaks will pay attention if you hold the feed and water for 24 hours.
My feed rule is like this: I feed all U can eat in 15 twice a day til they get out of control. Then I find the sweet spot with the feed. I feed at this ratio til they get out of control again. Then it is time to switch to W/M/P, usually around 4-5 months.
yits
KennyH
Last Edited by Velo99 on Apr 13, 2006 6:05 PM
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motherlodelofts
732 posts
Apr 13, 2006
6:45 PM
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Kenny I have never found a reason to hold back water or food on sqeeks , I start them off in the evenings and they go in because that is where thier perch is.
All I want them to do is learn thier surroundings and learn the top of the loft and how to get in the box to thier perch.
I don't even teach them to trap , some will fly, the ones that are a little behind won't till they are ready.
Once they are all up and kitting then I might cut the feed a tad and the slow learners then learn to trap , learning to trap is just no big deal and for me the trap is just another way to enter the kitbox , generaly I just open the door and they go in.
The trap is used more for when I am to lazy to do it properly or its just nap time LOL.
Also there is no feed on the ground , I consider that a big no -no , same with birds on the ground.
Scott
Last Edited by motherlodelofts on Apr 13, 2006 6:46 PM
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Fr.mike
147 posts
Apr 15, 2006
11:00 AM
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Thanks-Bluesman and Motherlode--My computer was down for two days so I couldnt respond.I cut back the feed and they slowed down and traped in -in about five min. from landing on the kit box.I gess I was spoiling them with tomuch feed.They actually flew longer and slower and did alittle bit better on the kitting.I went ahead and bought a bag of wheat and a bag of milo--do you think it will be good if I dont use it for A couple of months? I would hate to waste it.I have it in a metel can with a lid.
Thanks again Mike
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Velo99
371 posts
Apr 15, 2006
11:23 AM
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Scott,
I don`t have to do it very often. I have various ages of squeaks in the box right now. Some develope some bad habits while they are waiting for the rest to catch up.I handle them as much as possible and work with them on trapping. The wind had been up lately so I can`t fly the squeaks. Thats why I have to use sometimes less than desirable methods.In the end it all works out in the wash.
mtc
v99
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