Alot of it would depend on what part of 2007 were they born. The first hatches I would be expecting 10 or more feet (January Hatches). They would be pushing 8 months now and that is about the time they will basically be what they are going to be....basically. I do not cull any until they are in thier second season. That is when they will lay it all out on the table for you to inspect.
I am sure this response is a little short an somewhat vague, but I don't expect a thing out of any of my 2007 birds until sometime in 2008. Some of those birds that look good at 6 mo. old may not be worth a shit at 12 mo. old and vice versa.
Just my opinion.....so it don't mean a pissing thing.
Nick ---------- BigRiverRollerLofts
Last Edited by on Sep 13, 2007 2:10 AM
Bob I find with my family of birds that the birds that don't really show anything much more than flipping at 6 months end up being a more stable bird. The ones that are rolling 5 to 10 feet at 4 months usually become too frequent and or end up rolling down. Not all of them but a good percentage. The ones that become too frequent end up not kitting and landing early. They just can't seem to controll the roll at all when flying with the kit. I know this is a breeding problem I have to figure out. I just have some hot birds on hot birds and it just isn't working out well. The few that I get out of these pairs that are good are very good. But I am not sure what is going to happen when they go into the breeding loft if they do. I got my stock from Dan Taylor and he said to concentrate on the birds that don't really show much the first year. He said it would be easy to do because they are the birds that I never notice. I have two 05 birds that when I locked them down in 05 I thought about culling them. Then in 06 when I started flying them again they were totally different birds. Not as frequent as they could be but definately good rollers. Good speed and depth and my best kitting birds. Dan said these are the ones that should go back into the breeding loft. What I am trying to say is that if this family of birds are a tight family they will develope different than others birds. The man you need to talk to is the man you got the stock from. He should know these birds better than anyone. If you can't find these things out from him then you will have to take the long road and keep good records of your birds and determine for yourself how your birds develope. I would much rather have birds that develope early due to the short time I have to train young birds but with the family I have I think that would be the wrong road to take. I think I would end up with a lot of very hot birds with very little control and not much to compete with the 2nd year. ---------- Big Bob Fire Tower Roller Lofts
