kopetsa
469 posts
Mar 30, 2008
10:01 AM
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This morning a coopers and a falcon saw my birds from the trees and striked. It flipped upside down underneath the bird and grabbed its tail and feet. The bird struggled its wasy free, and the only harm done to it was a million ripped out feathers. My best roller got chased and ended up hided down back under a large dead spruce tree with the hawk on top watching over him. I was able to pick both stunned birds up. I still have one bird out and I am on pins and needles. Those *&^$#& hawks.
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Andrew
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mcroller
118 posts
Mar 30, 2008
10:26 AM
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im with you on that, those *^%##@&*() bleep bleep BOP,s.........jimmi
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kopetsa
470 posts
Mar 30, 2008
10:38 AM
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Because of my location, I am not hatching anymore rollers for a bit.I know most are saying "QUITTER, don't quit when you run into a challenge" but I cant just raise these birds to feed those #$%@$ bops! I am SURROUNDED in trees. I have to have rollers; so I guess I might have to go back to showing!
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Andrew
Last Edited by on Mar 30, 2008 10:47 AM
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pacos bill
39 posts
Mar 30, 2008
10:55 AM
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I guess its just part of the game, we banded over 70 brids last year and we never got to fly any of them out to see how they perform before they were eaten or run off.
We ended up with 16 young birds most of which were less than 6 mo old.
I have gone over to other guy’s lofts to see their birds fly and every time an attack happens and you never get to see the brids perform.
That is just the game in today’s world here in So Cal. Someone said we should release a bunch of culls before flying and let the killers go for it, or even Oriental rollers are said to be able to evade attacks then fly the kits.
DON'T GIVE UP Pacos Bill
Last Edited by on Mar 30, 2008 11:02 AM
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kopetsa
472 posts
Mar 30, 2008
11:07 AM
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I'm against any of my birds dying, good or bad! I will, unfortunately, not be able to fly where I am though; on an acreage SURROUNDED in trees. Those damn coopers just wait for me to release my birds and then STRIKE.
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Andrew
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Steve_uk
411 posts
Mar 30, 2008
11:40 AM
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All we can do is pray for a hawk virus and hopefully it will effect Sammy Davies to.
Steve...
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kopetsa
473 posts
Mar 30, 2008
12:06 PM
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lol..Steve..GOOD NEWS ALL (well to me anyways) I got all birds back in and out of the kit that I released this morning! OH YEAH GIGGITY GIGGITY! My gosh are those COOPERS big SOB's.
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Andrew
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Mount Airy Lofts
606 posts
Mar 30, 2008
5:36 PM
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Andrew,
That is life. I'd rather see them fly free and take my chances in the air then in the breeding loft. I'm a flier.
Good luck with your birds. Lost more birds than I'd cared for. To each his own.
Thor
P.S. When did you really start? I'm lost.
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It's all about the friends we make :)
Last Edited by on Mar 31, 2008 9:55 AM
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kopetsa
474 posts
Mar 30, 2008
6:24 PM
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I am kind of the opposite.. I would rather let the birds live a safe life and have easy food, water, and shelter! :) They are doing just fine in an 8ft x 8ft loft with 12ft x 8ft flight pen (7 feet high). Part is in the sun and part is shaded for them. I may still fly in the future though. I just began to breed for flyers too. :( Many people say switch breeds if you don't want to fly them, but I love this breed to much. Too me they are the greatest looking breed of pigeon out there and have the best attitudes!
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Andrew
Last Edited by on Mar 30, 2008 6:26 PM
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gabe454
656 posts
Mar 30, 2008
7:24 PM
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kopesta why you trowing in the towel so early you havent been threw what most of the guys been thru keep at it dont give up my friend to early that will happen sometime in the future again hope not but its a fact kop.
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454
TRIPLE "G" LOFT
L.P.R.C
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kopetsa
479 posts
Mar 30, 2008
8:07 PM
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I know Gabe, but where I live is just nuts..I am completely surround in trees and as soon as I let them out; There Mr. Cooper! >:
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Andrew
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wafer kits
81 posts
Mar 30, 2008
9:58 PM
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Andrew; Fly Portable! Al
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projeck_1
13 posts
Mar 31, 2008
7:10 AM
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i am with u.. those BOP.. on friday one of mine got taken out.. i try to help and scare off the falcon but the scoop my roller up and took it away.. then on sunday i was goin to train one of my newest pair to trap.. then a hawk flew of no where and scared both of them away.. the cock dissappear and the hen got grabbed.. too late to react.. 2 dead and 1 missing in 3 days.. no more flying.. all of mine are on locked down for the next 3 week until i can make sure the BOP are gone...
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http://www.sitekreator.com/projeck/
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DUCKS N ROLLERS
122 posts
Mar 31, 2008
8:52 AM
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wafer,
how do you "home" your birds when flying portable ?
just currious.
thanks,mike.
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Sourland
108 posts
Mar 31, 2008
8:59 AM
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Andrew, I started back in rollers in '03. Had a pretty good year in that I only lost about one third of my birds to BOP. From then on, things went to hell! My location sounds a lot like yours-a relatively tight back yard surrounded by tall trees. My birds were fine in the air and became pretty hawk evasive, but when they would try to trap in they would have to bank several times and became easy prey. Last year I decided that this location is just not conducive to flying rollers and gave everything away. The BOP just never left. I tried lockdown, flying at every time of the day-they just never left. I just reached the point where I could no longer justify the carnage. One thing I can assure you-you will miss flying ona daily basis. I do. Good luck with whatever decision you make.
Geo.
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wafer kits
82 posts
Mar 31, 2008
12:32 PM
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Mike;
Homing rollers to a portable is very much like training them to a stationary loft. Put them in a settling cage on top of your box and keep setting it in different locations (preferably 5 miles apart). The birds should be started out this way before they can fly (about 4 weeks of age). After 3 or 4 days you can remove the cage. They will stay in or on the box at first. Do not chase them up. Gradually they will start taking short flights and may settle down somewhere nearby at first but, if they are hungry they will start to find their way back.
Patience is the key word! Good luck.......Al
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DUCKS N ROLLERS
123 posts
Mar 31, 2008
1:30 PM
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Al,
thanks for the info....
sounds like like a good way to keep the b.o.p guessing.
might get a little expensive with the cost of gas though.
still interesting....may have to give it a try.
thanks,mike.
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kopetsa
480 posts
Mar 31, 2008
1:48 PM
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Thanks but I'm on 4 acres of trees. :( Sourland, "lost one third of my birds to BOPs" is not a good year, that is horrible! :)
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Andrew
Last Edited by on Mar 31, 2008 1:48 PM
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Santandercol
2245 posts
Mar 31, 2008
4:16 PM
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It is horrible but normal if you are flying Rollers.
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Kel.
Rum-30 Lofts
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PR_rollers
752 posts
Mar 31, 2008
5:18 PM
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wafer kits Is this Al Perron? If it is how is Aidan Foley ,he must be about 4 now right ? does he still assist with feeding the birds lol..cute little kid.I know he got the feed thing figure out.but does he reach the kit box door yet ,,:))saying hello all the way from Puerto Rico..
?
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Ralph....
Last Edited by on Mar 31, 2008 10:12 PM
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Oldfart
566 posts
Mar 31, 2008
6:01 PM
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Hey All, I'm near the river, less then 300 yards, and it seems to bring the B.O.P. in! Each of my young birds, and holdovers are special to me. I spend way to much time handeling them, get to close, worry to much! This I know. They are born to fly, anything less is a disservice.
I can lock them up forever, but to what end? They degrade, get fat and lazy, while I long for blue sky's and a kit of birds doing what they are born for. Take one second to see and you will understand, they want to fly! When my birds hit the kitbox roof panting like an old fat fireman, (I can speak to this)! You can see the pride in them. They are no different then you or I, when you are on, you are on!! They know it as surely as any of us! I hate risking my babies, I hate not risking them more.
Thom
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Edgar
146 posts
Mar 31, 2008
7:13 PM
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andrew man up! and keep flying.edgar.
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WaTtS UpP
487 posts
Mar 31, 2008
7:31 PM
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i dont know why this guys complaining about almost losing two birds your lucky to have got them back i have lost over 30 birds and just lost one more to the stupid falcon yup my silver white head
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Watts uppp homeboy
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kopetsa
481 posts
Mar 31, 2008
8:40 PM
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I know, but right now I am keeping them in or I'll have no birds and I'll have to start off fresh. Right they are all coming through and are starving and don't have any nests. Yesterday I saw a falcon fly through my driveway, and there is a coopers hawk sitting behind my house watching. I can see him when I walk in the back bush and then he disappears. I want him gone.
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Andrew
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wafer kits
83 posts
Mar 31, 2008
9:42 PM
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Hi Ralph;
You must have been browzing through some old NBRC bulletins. Aidan is 5 now and likes the birds but seldom gets to see them since he lives 1100 miles away from me in Massachusetts. Ill tell his mother you sent your regards from Puerto Rico. Thanks! Al Perron
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PR_rollers
772 posts
Mar 31, 2008
10:11 PM
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Yeah AL ,good to hear from you,I'm always browsing through my old NBRC bulletins.May June 2004..he is with his lil hat on lol..your little loft assistant..me and the wife got a kick out of that pic..
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Ralph....
Last Edited by on Mar 31, 2008 10:13 PM
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Mount Airy Lofts
614 posts
Apr 01, 2008
12:29 AM
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To fly or not to fly that is really up to you. Here is my take. It may not be so for you tho. I feel that if you get a flying breed, it should be flown. If not, then go with a show breed.
Personally I'd like to feel proud when I look at my birds. A lot of hard work and dedication went into them. Watching them grow, develop and that few that become great performers.
Just the other day, I was watching the birds and notice this super spin (of 20'). I followed that bird with my eyes until I could indentify it. Notice that it was the old 4 year old Saddle. Man did that put a huge smile over my face. These moments make it all worth it and why I fly.
Any one can take the easy road but there are no short cuts when you really want to enjoy your birds.
Sorry but I'm with Thom. Makes me sick when they get snatched. Makes me even sicker when I can't let them fly.
Thor
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It's all about the friends we make :)
Last Edited by on Apr 01, 2008 12:34 AM
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chuck
8 posts
Apr 01, 2008
5:36 AM
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Andrew, Don't give up, these Birds are meant to fly. I've lost 25 to the sharks this year. Breed more, Fly more. YITS, CHUCK
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Sourland
109 posts
Apr 01, 2008
8:09 AM
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Trust me I know how much it hurts to not be able to fly birds, but last year as I stood there holding a GOOD recessive red cock who had made his way back to the loft and watched his life's blood drip through my hands-I verbalized "Why the f*** am I doing this?" Our society puts us in a position where we are not legally allowed to protect our birds. I like my birds-I worked hard at improving them-I am competitive by nature and wanted to compete, but at my location I could no longer justify keeping birds just to watch them get slaughtered. It's all about location.
JMHO Geo.
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Indy
11 posts
Apr 01, 2008
3:37 PM
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To fly or not to fly your birds is a question you must decide on for yourself. If you can not stand take a chance of loosing them every time you turn them loose then maybe it is best for you to keep them in. I got into pigeons and especially rollers so I could watch them fly. I learned early on that every time you open your loft door you run the risk of loosing them. I fly my rollers, my homers, and even my Damascenes just because I like to watch them fly. I enjoy the shows to but if I could not watch them fly I would just give them up and stick to showing my rabbits.
JohnL
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Oldfart
572 posts
Apr 01, 2008
4:47 PM
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Thor, JohnL, It's all about the flying! We can try our best to minimize the risk and loses, but they fly! I'm not a show breeder, I find nothing wrong with the concept, it's just not for me. I can't fly, then I would just choose not to have birds at all. I feel so sorry for my breeders, I'm forced to keep them up, just can't take the chance, but their lives are not as they should be. Given the choice, I think they would fly with their young. :-(
JMHO Thom
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PR_rollers
797 posts
Apr 01, 2008
5:39 PM
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Thom I'm with 100 percent on that one.the day i have to keep them in 4 ever i quit .they were born to fly born to perform.
I use to fly my breeders when i didn't have a BOP here.now today i don't have any because of it..but when i make my new loft it will have a large enough space for them to fly around and get exercise in and plenty of sun..
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Ralph....
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