NathanL
1 post
Aug 08, 2006
6:35 PM
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Hello, Everyone I'am new to rollers and have a couple basic questions. I have purchased 34 old birds from a local rollerman for my new 4'x4'x4' kitbox. I installed a sputnik like the racing folks use so that the birds can learn their immediate surroundings. My questions are how long should I leave them locked in the box? Should I feed them a bit heavy until they know their new home and are ready to fly again? The day before I release them I understand that I should withhold all feed such that they will not be willing to fly for any length of time and hopefully trap quickly. Any thoughts will be appreciated.
Nathan
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GREED FOR SPEED LOFT
121 posts
Aug 08, 2006
7:05 PM
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Nathan, you got it down right , keep them hungary for a few days before and hold back the water also to a minimum , tape thier wings also and let them walk around there surroundings for a few days also before taking off the tape and you'll see what happens. The idea is to brain wash them. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
R-LUNA
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C.J.
537 posts
Aug 08, 2006
7:18 PM
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I would also tape their wings. It doesn't matter how hungry they are if they become confused they are still going to leave. I have also increased the size of the landing pad for my young birds until they used to coming in and out.
C.J.
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NathanL
3 posts
Aug 08, 2006
7:26 PM
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Can you explain the wing taping procedure? Once taped should I open the Sputnik release door daily so they can wonder about? Or can the birds not fly at all taped such that I would have to manually catch and return the birds throught the sputnik?
I really don't want to lose these birds...
Thanks
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fhtfire
550 posts
Aug 08, 2006
7:52 PM
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take two or three flight feathers and tape them together...that makes it hard for them to fly. I would also only release 4-5 at a time....when it is time to let them take to the wing...I homed in about 35 Campbell birds that way and only lost like 9 birds total...once you get about 10 homed...the rest want to stay with the kit. When you have birds already flying it gets easier. I homed in two auction birds in a week...kep them in a couple days to get used to the place...then taped the wings and put them on the kit box.....for about a week and then removed the tape and they took off on there own and flew with the kit immediatly and then trapped....keep them real hungry..
rock and ROLL
Paul
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Heyyou
28 posts
Aug 09, 2006
7:17 AM
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I have a training cage that fits over the trap and also allows the birds to get onto the roof. I lock the trap in the open position and let them come and go and train them to the whistle while I feed and cut the feed back the last two days. I leave them in this for a week and let them out to fly. Out of 25 birds I might lose one.
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Mount Airy Lofts
251 posts
Aug 09, 2006
5:17 PM
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Tape method has worked great for me. It has worked well for over 5 years now.
Just settled in 12 first generation Ouellettes. Two went astray for a day but returned just fine the next. Lost zero. Some took as long as 3 weeks, some only a week. It all depends how each bird takes to their new home (with the tape on). Observation is key!
Thor
P.S. The birds above were yearlyings.. not old birds nor were they young birds.
Last Edited by Mount Airy Lofts on Aug 09, 2006 5:18 PM
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NathanL
4 posts
Aug 09, 2006
7:06 PM
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Thank you everyone for your help!
I got busy taping wings and setting birds on the top of the kitbox and before I new it I had half(16) of the kit taped and released. Needless to say I stopped taping/releasing and simply watched the birds from a distance. The following happened:
First, all of the birds flew and landed on my pole barn that is only a few feet from the kitbox. Maybe 8 birds attempted to fly and quickly landed back with the other birds on the barn.
Meanwhile, one of the un-taped birds in the kitbox escapes through the sputnik entrance(I didn't think birds could get OUT of those openings???) and it too landed with the other birds on the barn.
After about a half hour of preening the escapee and another bird take flight for roughly 10 minutes and land on the barn again.
The bird did not seem to keen to eat as I'd hoped to aid in trapping them. I inticed 4 birds by sprinkling a few grains on the roof of the kitbox and a few on the landing board. Once on the board those four soon trapped to eat the large pile of seed on the floor of the sputnik.
It is now 30 minutes to sundown and I have 13 birds roosting on the barn. I sprinkled a few more grains on the roof and board in an attempt to repeat the previous event - no such luck :( Birds eventually make their way onto the roof of the kitbox to roost for the evening where I quickly snag 5 of them and return them to the box through the sputnik. The remaining 8 birds are now roosting on the ridge of the barn.
Tonight I learned these things:
1. Don't build 4' deep kitboxes :)
2. These birds need to be very hungry to have any control at all.
3. Only release 4-5 as someone suggested above.
Your constructive feedback is welcome, as I need all the help I can get LOL!!!
Thanks
Nathan
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Heyyou
29 posts
Aug 10, 2006
7:23 AM
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they need to be hungry enough so if you whistle or rattle feed in a can that the birds go crazy as if they are starving. It's the only way you can control them when home training.
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Outlaw Vizsla
19 posts
Aug 10, 2006
12:25 PM
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When your feeding the birds in the kit box, if they are not mobbing you coming off the perch to the whistle call and can shake...your still feeding them to much. Don't put them out with the tape on their wings till you have them mobbing you...like everyone else has said the key is to keep them VERY hungry.
Matt Rogers
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