Spud
55 posts
Jan 02, 2007
9:52 AM
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When I flew homers, we were always very concerned with "form". One of the ways I could judge if form was coming on or not was the birds droppings. Small, tight with a bit of down on them was what I was looking for. Do Roller guys look for "form" and if so what are you looking for?
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
1006 posts
Jan 02, 2007
10:00 AM
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Nope, not into studying the crap thing other than watching for clues of when a bird is stressed (slimy green) or when it ill. Noticing the birds crap is about the only way for us to see inside the bird and notice if something is going wrong. You have to remember that we treat our rollers completely the opposite of how a person would treat racing homers. Total opposite ends of the nutrition and health spectrum. A roller in "form" would be a stiff, a cull, a bird on it's way to the bird farm.
Brian.
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nicksiders
1142 posts
Jan 02, 2007
3:23 PM
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Racing guys "feed up" for competition; roller guys "feed down" for competition. BMC hit it. Everything is done in seperate direction roller vs. racers.
Weird!
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Snicker Rollers
Last Edited by on Jan 02, 2007 5:00 PM
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Spud
56 posts
Jan 02, 2007
3:39 PM
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Hmmm, so if you handle a roller that you think, man this bird will roll today, what does it feel like? A dish rag? (I'm thinking the opposite of a how a homer feels)
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motherlodelofts
1265 posts
Jan 02, 2007
4:03 PM
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Spud , Kenny Billings has discussed this in detail with me on this very subject , to the point of measureing water intake depending on droppings , he has applied many condioning techniques from cock fighting days.
He has a special kit box where feed and water can be microed in on each bird individually, of course it is also hard work and is very time consuming , water intake surely does affect performance and qaulity !!
You will find that many of the Racer and cock fighters that takes up these birds also are very good managers of them.
Scott
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nicksiders
1143 posts
Jan 02, 2007
5:10 PM
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SPUD,
The dish rag comment is pretty close for a discription. It was described by a great breader that the roller should feel like a waded up T-shirt in the hand.
But, if they look like a dish rag in the roll....that's bad(LOL). It's gotta be tight.
Scott stated that good racer breeders/managers tend to be good roller breeders/managers and that is true. It is all about paying attention to detail and that has already been instilled.
Nick
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Snicker Rollers
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Spud
57 posts
Jan 02, 2007
5:49 PM
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Thanks guys, It's hard for me because I know what I like a bird to feel like, which is counter productive to rolling. So what I need to do is get the feel for a bird that "off form". Probably the best way to to watch em roll and then handle the best ones.
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motherlodelofts
1267 posts
Jan 02, 2007
7:26 PM
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Actualy Spud, not quite like that, if my birds are right I don't want them beat down, I want them mentaly stimulated and in good physical condition , I want them to roll hard, and if they don't feel good they won't give me that.
Scott
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Ally Mac
138 posts
Jan 03, 2007
2:48 AM
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Scott.
You mentioned measuring water intake in one of your posts there. I think I am getting to grips with handling the birds food wise but have always left a full drinker in the kit box, loft etc.
Do you, or anyone else, also ration their water to control the kit.
Al.
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nicksiders
1151 posts
Jan 03, 2007
7:53 AM
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I will take the water away from them after they eat the day before competition. They spend the evening; night; and up until liberation the next day for competition without access to water.
Nick
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Snicker Rollers
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Spud
59 posts
Jan 03, 2007
8:19 AM
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"Actualy Spud, not quite like that, if my birds are right I don't want them beat down, I want them mentaly stimulated and in good physical condition , I want them to roll hard, and if they don't feel good they won't give me that.
Scott"
This is different from what I've been hearing. So are you saying your birds feel more like a homer in "form" but are meatally ready to fly? How are they mentally ready?
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