Oldfart
95 posts
Aug 02, 2007
4:46 PM
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Hey All, At what age do you place your squeaks into a
kitbox? Also I have a few that are two to three months old but have not been trained. I just now got my kitbox up and working. Is it too late to settle and train these and if not how would you go about doing so? Any and all advice will be appricated!
Thanks Thom
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Velo99
1246 posts
Aug 02, 2007
4:57 PM
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Thom
I put the squeaks in the kitbox when they have 5-10 "hairs" of the fuzz left on their head. Not a real particular time per se, just an observation thing.
They should be picking at the seed and at least paying attention to the drinker. After a couple of days in the box they will figure out what is what. Watch them toward the end of the first day, dip their beaks in the drinker. They will probably get a big drink, you might have to repeat this a little later in the evening. They will get it pretty quick.
The older ones will be fine,just be patient.
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V99
Flippin`The Bird!
http://www.bluedotloft.50megs.com
Last Edited by on Aug 02, 2007 4:57 PM
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classicpony
278 posts
Aug 02, 2007
5:20 PM
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Around 30 days, they should be ready, but I keep an eye on them after putting them in and start the trap training.
Jim
@thebirdhouse
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
1482 posts
Aug 02, 2007
5:32 PM
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Thom, the earliest I put mine in the box is when they can stand on their own, but most of the time it is just before they can fly up to a perch. If yours are two-three months old you won't have a problem settling them. However I would tape up their last four flights on both wings to keep them on the roof for a few days. Leave the tape on for about 10 days. They should be settled by then.
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nicksiders
1999 posts
Aug 02, 2007
7:15 PM
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Ditto here, BMC
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Nick
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Double R
54 posts
Aug 03, 2007
2:46 AM
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Thom,
I start pitching a few grains of feed in the nest with my young birds, when they are covered with pin feathers. At about 2weeks to 2 1/2weeks old I put mine on the floor of the loft. At about 3weeks when their tail feathers are about 2inches long, and their picking up feed from the floor they go in the kit box. It works for me!!!
Robby
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Richard
39 posts
Aug 03, 2007
5:11 AM
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Each family of rollers is different. Mine come into the roll early so I have to get them into the air as early as possible. On the floor as soon as they are standing up, into the kit box about 29 days, into the air at about 35 to 38 days. Of course one has to watch to make sure they are eating and drinking on their own. Blinking eyes mean not getting enough water.
Any later than this the young are trying to do two things at once. flying and rolling. .
Why do I want themcome into the roll early. I only have a few months to fly them and I can not wait for them to go 6 or 8 months to roll. Or a year as some do.
Richard
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classicpony
280 posts
Aug 03, 2007
6:18 AM
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Richard,
Thanks, I did not know about the blinking when fresh into the kitbox. I will have to watch for this, do you have any more??
Jim
@thebirdhouse
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Richard
41 posts
Aug 03, 2007
7:06 AM
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JIm
The blinking is caused by lack of water. this can happen to old birds also. Like you bring in a new birds and it is not use to useing your type of waterer, they have been know to die for lack of water. There are all kinds of watering system use in the hobby. Their birds know what to look for for water at home. Away they don't.
Richard
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sundance
151 posts
Aug 03, 2007
9:27 AM
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I put mine on the floor when the tailfeathers are about 1 inch. Then watch for them to try flying in the loft. First time they are not on the floor they go to the box. On the second day in the kitbox I dip their beak in the drinker.
Occasionally I keep an older bird in the box with the squeeks so they can watch and learn. Two weeks in the kitbox and I open the doors and let them find their own way out and about the roof. If I use a cage over the trap door for about a week they are usually ok from there and then the fun begins.
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Oldfart
97 posts
Aug 03, 2007
3:00 PM
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Hey All, Thank you for the quick responses. I love this site, ask a question, get an answer! In the early 1970's
I used to lace the primaries with thread, tape works better and is faster, THANKS!!! I'm starting with the young I bred from Tony's RUBYS. It has taken me a little longer to get my kit box and brood loft built then I thought it would. Now, I'm loft heavy and bird scarce. I have five young, and three in the nest, but I figure start slow and with the best! (Tony, notice the kiss A-- plug!) I appreciate this site and all the daily interaction. some good, some not so good, but always interesting. To all that responded, THANKS!!!
Thom
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nicksiders
2006 posts
Aug 03, 2007
3:42 PM
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Richard Miller probably has forgotten more about pigeons than most of us will ever know in a lifetime. It is always nice to have people of that calibre on this list. What is also nice is that he never rubs his knowledge in your face and never snubs you for not knowing something that he may feel should be of a common nature. There is more to Mr. Miller than he allows you to think. He is so low key that there are probably some so-called top flyers that don't even have a clue who he is.
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Nick
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Oldfart
98 posts
Aug 03, 2007
4:44 PM
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To All, Nick is not so uninformed himself! It takes knowledge to undestand another, and then to appreciate
their accomplishments a greater depth of understanding. Besides, he likes RED CHECKS!!!
Thom
Last Edited by on Aug 03, 2007 4:45 PM
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Richard
44 posts
Aug 03, 2007
5:16 PM
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Nike
Thanks.
I have been there and made all the usual mistakes one can make, and then some.
I remember when I had about 3 years with roller, prior to that 30 years with homers, I though I knew everything. It took me till five years with rollers to find out I knew very little about rollers. One thing I learned at five years , they were smarter than me. Since then it has been slow process. I see my self in some of the new guys and just chuckle, you will learn. Good luck to all with their rollers. Wonderful hobby and I enjoyed them very much over the years. Some times we have to move on.
Richard
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nicksiders
2011 posts
Aug 03, 2007
6:07 PM
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Thanks Thom. Us "old farts" have to stick together and I do like them red checkers(LOL)
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Nick
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classicpony
287 posts
Aug 04, 2007
1:43 AM
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Richard,
I use the same waterer from the loft to the kitbox, It's the gallon type, I clean the base once every week or two. So the squabs should know the water on sight for its at floor level. I have it so you can change the water without ever opening the kitbox.
Jim
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Richard
46 posts
Aug 04, 2007
2:56 AM
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Jim
there you go you have the problem solved. Young know where the water is. Little things like that gives you a head start. Remember most all sickness is started in the water can.
Richard
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