spencer2
1 post
Aug 22, 2007
1:55 AM
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Can anyone give me some advice? I just got started in rollers this past year. I have had homers for years and my dad has raised rollers and flown in his backyard for almost 60 years. I raised several young this year and have started 3 seperate kits. Here's my question: the bird that i raised that spins best(the way I like one to anyway),only flys a few minutes and then lands in a tree. I know this is a major no-no, but i really love the way it rolls until then. Is there anyway I could breed from this bird without compromising everything? What would you do?
Thanks
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J_Star
1149 posts
Aug 22, 2007
4:59 AM
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Pigeons love to fly and if they don't, there is something wrong. Try to give him worm medication first. It is possible that from the humidity worms established in your birds gut. So get rid of them. Then feed him some protein for the next five days. If that doesn't work, then use the garden hose and spray water on him every time he wants to land on the tree but you need a high pressure nozzle. If all that don’t work, cull him.
Jay
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nicksiders
2090 posts
Aug 22, 2007
8:57 AM
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Like J pointed out; you got to check the bird out and see if there is anything that may be preventing it from flying. Check it over carefully; observe it eating and see if it is getting all the nutrition that the other birds are getting; check some droppings to make sure there are signs of good health. If you find that everything is in good order and it continues to land early into the trees find a way to flag him up. You will need to do this for several days. If the birds still does not put it all together I would definitly not stock it. If you are a competitor, culling may be in order
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Nick
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MILO
405 posts
Aug 22, 2007
9:56 AM
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Well my friend, sometimes we have to try really really hard to make the right decisions. That may be a cull. It may have control issues, and eventually the bird may roll down. So, having said that, it's ok to get rid of it. If you stick it out with the rollers, you will someday have birds that roll a gazillion times better, and that tree sitter will be nothing more than a memory. Good luck!
c
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Gregg
174 posts
Aug 22, 2007
10:21 AM
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Spencer,
All of the above is good sound roller advice. My first question would be: How long have you had rollers and have you gotten around for a year or two to observe really good rollers? Because if that tree sitter is the best you've got then you have to realize that, all other factors being right, that bird has control problems and is unable to keep it together. Knows full well that it is the top of the tree or rolldown. Smart bird but still a problem bird.
Now here is where the old man shows his butt and will definitely get ballyhooed for. You love this birds speed? syle? whatever. If it is a solid thirty footer that is just too frequent here is an idea. Mate it in a seperate pen away from the rest of your birds to an infrequent ten footer. This is called playing with fire because if you continue this line, somewhere down the road the rolldowns will come back and bite you on the butt. But for just the heck of it, to answer your questions about this bird, hey, why not give it a shot. Just remember to keep track of the youngsters and be careful not to incorporate them into you breeding program, even if they are great performers, until they have been in the air for a at least a couple of years. And then be very careful to watch their progeny and see if that lack of control comes back. They are your birds, if you want to play, then play. But realize that it is something that you will have to keep a close tight rein on and may end up having to destroy the whole shooting match, from the original tree sitter to the last youngster out of that blood. What I will tell you is that more than one loft has been started with hot birds. Doesn't mean that it was the smartest route to go, but many have. But usually those hot birds aren't tree sitters. Now, decide if that kind of time and effort is worth it. Perhaps the amount of time and feed you would be investing might be spent more wisely in purchasing a pair of proven spinners from a stable family.
A lot to think about.
Gregg.
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Richard
65 posts
Aug 22, 2007
4:01 PM
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Sounds like your bird is one of several things.
Too Fat
too light
sick
Afraid of the roll.
If it is the last cull it now and then you won''t have a bunch more like it. Never raise young out of a problem birds. If it insist to continue landing in a tree. Cull it. One tree setter is bad but several is real bad, as it will eventually draw more to the tree.
Richard
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Norm_Knox
89 posts
Aug 22, 2007
9:13 PM
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Try taking him about a mile away from your house and let him fly and see what happens. Its either sick or just plain lazy and overfed. Hope this helps.
Norm
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Donny James
26 posts
Aug 22, 2007
9:18 PM
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hay spencer,
i would take a block a way and turn him loose and see if he fly back and if that don't work take 2 blocks a way and turn him loose do this a few times this should break him....................donny james
Last Edited by on Aug 23, 2007 10:34 AM
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