JB
3 posts
Nov 02, 2008
1:44 PM
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This past February I moved from Missouri back home to Iowa. I brought up all my kit birds and breeders, threw some perches in a chicken house at my brothers place, set up a self feeder and waterer, then threw them in, said a prayer, and left. My brother did a great job caring for them and many nested on the floor and raised squabs. They have nearly doubled their numbers.
In 9 months only one bird died (my best breeder cock bird that I was going to base my line on of course, but that is the way it goes sometimes.) Just this weekend I FINALLY got them back and in their new loft. We didn't find a house we liked so we built and were thus greatly delayed.
With the short days, cold weather, and hawks, I probably won't be able to load the kit boxes and fly until spring. I would hold them and fly them out, but if it isn't worth it, I would rather not feed this many birds through the winter if they likely won't ever amount to squat. (I would be holding about 80 flyers. I have the kit box space, but WOW!) So I have a few questions:
1. The kit birds that have been flown in the past will have gone nearly one and a half years since being flown. (Had to lock down due to hawks last fall.) Could they pull it back together next spring? Many only flew for the summer after hatch and hadn't completely come into the roll before lock down and then the move. There were sure to have been culls in the bunch even under ideal conditions.
2. The young birds randomly hatched this spring and summer could be nearly one year old by this spring and would never have even seen the sky. Add to that they are as likely or more likely to be out of a kit bird as they are to be out of one of my breeders. Are they worth the work?
I guess that is the bottom line, is it worth the work, or would it be better to cull the kit birds and the young birds of unknown parentage and fly out fresh young birds hatched this coming spring?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
John
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brudahpete
61 posts
Nov 02, 2008
1:49 PM
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Try 'em! You can't expect them to perform like a cohesive kit but they are rollers and should be given the opportunity. You will be able to see what you have and where to go next. When in doubt, fly 'em!
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Rule #1: Don't build your loft anywhere near your wife's clothesline....
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Norm_Knox
220 posts
Nov 02, 2008
2:25 PM
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Fly them, they might surprise you....
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N/A Loft
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rtwilliams
232 posts
Nov 02, 2008
3:44 PM
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My opinion
Fly them. Be patent the first couple of months, and then cull hard. Who Knows you might have a good spring fly with what you have. Also since you are on the verge of culling them anyway, fly whether you have a BOP problem or not. If they prove themselves you may find that cock bird to replace the one you lost. He may have a quality offspring in there somewhere.
Good luck
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RT Williams
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wishiwon2
89 posts
Nov 02, 2008
4:44 PM
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My opinion, for what its worth ...
Those birds that have been flown and kitted previously, fly again. Even thoug it has been over a year for some, they ended on good habits, flying and kitting. I have re-flown breeders after having them in the loft for 2 years and more. Be patient initially, it will take time, maybe months for them to get back in the groove. My experience has been most will eventually come back to near what they once were.
Those youngsters that have never been flown ... they will be a huge trial for you. Especially those that are older than 4 or 5 months and unflown. It can be done, and several may turn out great, but odds are against it and the input will be tremendous. Unless you know the parentage and have an inkling they have a chance of turning out good, I say dump them and invest you time in those that have been flown already, look forward to next season.
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Windjammer Loft
462 posts
Nov 02, 2008
4:46 PM
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If I were in your situation, I would cull all but the ones I was going to breed from. And start off fresh in 2009. You'd be waisting too much time. And in this hobby time is very valuable.
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Fly High and Roll On
Paul
Last Edited by on Nov 02, 2008 4:48 PM
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PR_rollers
1862 posts
Nov 02, 2008
5:08 PM
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I'm with WishiWon2... Fly the one's that were flown once,and get rid of the ones that are one year old and never flew those are going to give a you a hard time with kitting ..now this could be something to play with until you decide what is going to be your breeders.meanwhile you might have a kit flying that maybe can help you with training the new ones and getting you back on the grove if not the birds ...you...also you might see a pair or two that you really like and you can use some of these that you kept for fosters...which can help you move ahead in time...good luck..
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Ralph
Last Edited by on Nov 02, 2008 5:09 PM
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kopetsa
2075 posts
Nov 02, 2008
7:14 PM
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I don't see why you wouldn't try them..
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Andrew C.
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TimP
100 posts
Nov 02, 2008
7:50 PM
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JMO, I would keep all the hens and fly them. The cocks on the other hand I would choose some fosters if needed, if not I would dispose of them. Old hens are just as easy to train as young birds in my past experiences, cocks that have not flown and have already bread will give you nothing but fits.
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Santandercol
3327 posts
Nov 02, 2008
8:15 PM
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When you say time is very valuable,,,it depends on how serious about competition you are.I'd be happy to see birds in the air after this long if I was you.Fly 'em,then do your culling.
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Kel.
Rum-30 Lofts
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cv rollers
110 posts
Nov 02, 2008
10:29 PM
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tuff choice ,i would fly them they deserve a chance to prove themselves ...then cull...
rick
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maxspin
298 posts
Nov 03, 2008
7:06 AM
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I would make sure that my foster loft was fully stocked to pump out as many young birds as I could.
Then I would fly what was left with low expectations.
When/if the young birds start performing better than the unflown holdovers I would get rid of them.
DO NOT mix your young birds with these birds until late in the year. Then only if there are some that do not have bad habits.
Have fun with them
Keith Maxwell
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