Electric-man
29 posts
Nov 21, 2006
4:43 PM
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Situation- New family, from good breeders, unflown because I was afraid I wouldn't get anymore.6 pr.just coming in to breeding age.How many sets of babies do I let them have before I swith mates to see if there better suited for another mate. Should I go a whole season or just 6 or 8 young ones,persay? The reason I ask is because I would hate to get rid of both birds in a pair if they didn't produce what i wanted because one could be the problem and covering the other ones good genes, couldn't it? Hope some one can understand where i'm going with this!
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JMUrbon
57 posts
Nov 21, 2006
5:03 PM
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A half a dozen young is sufficient to tell if a pair is compatible but it will take many more than that to prove out a " click pair". More important than a click pair is the prepotency of a bird. You would much rather have a bird that can do it on any mate than one that just throws roll on one bird. Then you are looking for the ones that also pass that trait on to their young. That is when you start seing the real fun begin.
As a beginner you will want to switch the pairs around mid season and try to get a good 5-6 young from each pair. Remember that you cannot draw a conclusion on a pair if the young don't survive due to preditors so just because you don't see the goods from a pair right away doesn't mean it isn't there. Look first to make sure that the young are still in the air. Joe Urbon
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katyroller
94 posts
Nov 21, 2006
5:59 PM
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Electric-man, I'm kind of doing the same thing. Last breeding season I put together 6 new pairs with pumpers and let them breed as many young as I could get out of them. Those young are all flying now and I'm pretty happy with what I'm seeing. I paired the way the breeder suggested I pair them. This coming breeding season I will change around all the mates and see what happens. I know this is the long way to do things but I like alot of birds to base my decisions on.
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Electric-man
31 posts
Nov 21, 2006
7:03 PM
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Thanks Katy, I don't mind taking the long road,fact is that's pretty much the story of my life,LOL! I wouldn't know how else to do something!Hope I have some luck with my first pairings like you. I'm kinda figuring I should try them with 2 or 3 matings before I outcast any as non-producers.Wouldn't you say?
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katyroller
98 posts
Nov 22, 2006
8:10 PM
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Electric-man, I agree. The real twist is that some of those youngsters that don't impress you that much, are the ones that will breed the best birds. The breeder I got most of my birds from told me which pairs should throw the best young. So far their young aren't much better than the rest. I'll have to have some faith in the original breeder and consider their background when deciding wether or not to stock any of them. Decisions, decisions!
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Electric-man
32 posts
Nov 22, 2006
9:06 PM
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I know what you mean about decisions, I have a half dozen of my original stock,(don't know what they are), A few masons,hardesties,jaconettes, 1pr. of Gary Stephens (higgins),1pr. of Dave Hendersons,and some Turners.What a mess I've created! I'm getting rid of the masons,(seeing nothing out of them this year), loaned my hardesties to a friend, but surely I've got something out of the rest that will be a fit for me. Wished I had more experience to make the propper decisions in the future.Any suggestions on how to keep it all straight?
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JMUrbon
60 posts
Nov 22, 2006
9:55 PM
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personally I would stick with the Higgins birds and the Henderson birds. I say that with a bit of prejudice though because Dave henderson is my best friend and we have been flying birds together for 25 years. His birds and mine are virtually identicle. Joe Urbon
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Electric-man
33 posts
Nov 23, 2006
12:07 AM
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Thanks Joe, Would it be possible to contact you privatly on a couple of questions in the near future? Email or a phone #, I will give you mine if you would rather go that route.
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fhtfire
661 posts
Nov 23, 2006
2:45 PM
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I agree with Joe...Henderson has some good birds...and so does Higgins....You have to give the birds some time to come into the roll...and really tweak the feeding when they come into the roll..to find out what works best. Just remember that there is more to the birds then just name...you have to play with the feed...and fly schedule and take lots of notes.....if you do play with the feed and schedule...do it for about a three week period...so you can get the full reaction of the birds...and take notes notes notes....on your notes...put down what you fed and how much...weather conditions...temp.....time of day you are releasing...how many days rest.....wind speed...and how many birds in the team.....the after a couple of months..go back to your notes and see what was working and what was not...if you find something that works...then put them on that feeding schedule and fly schedule for a longer period and see what happens. When they are well into the roll...or "older birds" Pick a day 2 weeks out as a fake comp day and fly them every day and put them on enough wheat to keep them at about 30 min fly time..then rest them 2-3 days before your fake comp time and give them maybe a full ration of mix the last day you fly...then cut it 1/4 for the next rest day and give them straight wheat..then cut it 1/4 again and give them straight milo and see what happens...then put them on a nice mix for a couple weeks..go back to your original fly schedule of fly rest rest..or fly rest fly rest rest or what have you..then pick another fake comp day and do the same thing but on the last rest days before your fake comp day..play with the feed some more...quantities and types...you just have to keep playing around until you find what works...
ONe more thing...handle your birds so that they you can tell if they are getting light on you...the throw them a mix for a couple of days.....it is just trial and error...and it takes TIME lots of TIME....have patience....nothing comes quick...but when you finally find what works...go from there...
Pick Joe's brain about Daves birds....he flys just about the same thing and he could help you out with feeding and fly schedule....also...ask about maybe getting a round in the future if he is able.
rock and ROLL
Paul
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Electric-man
34 posts
Nov 23, 2006
4:44 PM
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Bad news, I just talked to Dave and the D.A.H. bands are not his. That really lets the air out of the balloon! I did talk to Gary about those Higgins and they are his, but they are 11 yrs old. However, they are on eggs at the moment. I admitt that I have some Turners and I expect them to be very good birds,but after all the contraversy, I would like to have a second loft of pure BRs. Just a desire to live on both sides of the fence and make up my own mind! I plan on rollers being a part of the rest of my life, a guy ought to experience all he can!
Paul, thank you for the reply, I am going to print that last post off and put it with my notes.
Last Edited by on Nov 23, 2006 4:45 PM
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JMUrbon
64 posts
Nov 23, 2006
4:52 PM
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Electric man you are welcome to call me anytime. I can be reached at 530-751-3010. Joe or email ma at jmurbonlofts@sbcglobal.net
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birdman
236 posts
Nov 23, 2006
5:47 PM
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Electric-man,
I think the D.A.H. birds might be from Danny Horner.
Russ
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J_Star
694 posts
Nov 24, 2006
5:53 AM
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D.A.H. are Danny Horner birds. I have a loft full of them. If you need info about Danny's Jaconette's let me know. Brian Mc also have great info. What color is the band? Thanks.
Jay
Last Edited by on Nov 24, 2006 5:53 AM
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Electric-man
36 posts
Nov 24, 2006
4:01 PM
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Thanks for the reply,The band is a bright green- 04 birds-red bar and a red bar grizzle. Yes I would like some info on them, from you or him either one. Are you happy with yours?
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
816 posts
Nov 24, 2006
5:52 PM
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Your best resource for info on the DAH birds you obtained is to call Danny directly @919-563-5658. He loves to talk pigeons and will look the band numbers up for you.
As for being happy with them? I am pleased, but like anything else, they aren't a silver bullet. You have to breed a bunch and figure them out. Once you figure out which birds are bringing what you want to see, it's pretty smooth sailing from there.
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Electric-man
39 posts
Nov 24, 2006
8:14 PM
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Thank you Brian, what time zone is he in, the last guy I called, I got him up a couple of hours before he was planning!LOL
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
818 posts
Nov 24, 2006
9:14 PM
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He's in NC, Eastern Time.
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