Newflyer
70 posts
Aug 19, 2006
10:15 AM
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Puzzled....I need some understanding on why rollers are kept in dark kit boxes? I have some understanding that the dark keeps them in a calm state of mind. But not like homers, having access to outside all the time and bright surroundings. Dont the birds need the sun and the rain to help them stay healthy and clean? Or is it that once the rollers are settled they dont need to have access to the outside cage or light at all? Only to get the sunlight when they are released to fly. Help this once homer guy become a better understanding of rollers.
I need your help once again
Paul
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nicksiders
800 posts
Aug 19, 2006
11:10 AM
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Simi dark is what I have been told by many....I don't know what dark that is. There are many breeders who do not keep thier birds in the dark. My kit boxes are naturally darker than out and out daylight. The only light they get is light through the open botton (wire only bottom).
I believe that the darker climate settles them quicker and promotes the kitting impulse when liberated. I also understand the darker climate discourages kit box breeding activity.
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Snicker Rollers
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Alohazona
177 posts
Aug 19, 2006
1:34 PM
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I find myself in the middle ground area,when it comes to darkening.I use it as a tool for fly day,unwanted mating up.I work my birds with a management concept, starting with the breeding pen.Everything else are adjustable components to age,weather conditions and needed rest/re-nutritioning.Backing up to the original question its personal choice to fully darken or fully sun rollers,my boxes are semi-dark/light and are only darkened on competition fly day,it is not implimented on any training days at all, or it does not have the effect I'm looking for,which is to tickle their mentality that particular time out flying.Its my opinion that birds liberated consistanly from fully darkened boxes are able to learn to adjust within the first few minutes of flight and their performance is varible.Its my obserance that when this technique is used sparingly your percentages go up on its effectiveness,at least within my familys....Aloha,Todd
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C.J.
562 posts
Aug 19, 2006
7:18 PM
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I personally don't keep mine in the dark. Alot has to do with the family of birds and what the hobbiest has trained them to be used to.But right about now I am thinking about putting them in a steel vault to keep out an unknown predator.
C.J.
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fhtfire
555 posts
Aug 19, 2006
10:02 PM
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I myself do not see a benefit to darken the box. WIth my birds all it does is make them a little active for abotu 30 seconds when they are released...sometimes a little to active. I just give my birds the sunlight....but just like any advice about rollers you have to try it and see if it works for you. What may work for you may not work for me and so on...My boxes are made in a way to be able to close them up if I want to...I usually do when the weather is real rainy and windy...other than that..I have not seen a benefit to darkening the boxes with "MY" birds.
rock and ROLL
Paul
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C.J.
563 posts
Aug 20, 2006
5:52 AM
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Kelly Every time I look around this thing is hitting me. My kit of young birds is completely gone. It got into my breeder pen last night and I am not sure how many it got out of there yet. I will keep you posted.
C.J.
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Newflyer
71 posts
Aug 20, 2006
2:30 PM
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Hey....C J, you might want to put a cookie tray with flour sprinkled all over on the ground near the pens to see what kind of foot prints are left in the flour. This may make it better to see just what kind of culpret you are dealing with. Just my thoughts
Paul
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bman
43 posts
Aug 21, 2006
7:00 AM
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This is somewhat related,I have a enclosure I would like to use as a stock pen but it doesn't have access to direct sunlight.Idirect,yes and electric just no way to have an aviary or sun pen.Can you keep birds indefinitly under these conditions?Any ill effeccts?
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Ron
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nicksiders
803 posts
Aug 21, 2006
12:48 PM
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I believe you can and it has been done. I would make sure you suppliment thier diet with vitamins( infact, you should suppliment even if they do get sunshine). Your breeders should do OK without direct sunshine in my opinion.
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Snicker Rollers
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