macsrollers
60 posts
Apr 30, 2009
10:51 PM
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At what age do you consider too young to pull squeakers? In Pensom's book he comments about pulling them at about 18 days old. I used to wait until 5 weeks, which I have learned is really about a week longer then necessary as you can have a squeaker in the air at 5 weeks and definitely should have them in the air at 6 weeks. So I started pulling them at 30 days. The last few years I started pulling them at 25 days, as long as they are nice healthy ones. I will leave one that is a little runty or smaller tehn it's nestmate a little longer. I was nervous about pulling them at 25 days but I found that they eat fine. I put a few B or C team hens with them for several days to help them learn to eat and I make sure to dip their beaks a few times if any of them get blinky eyed or show other signs of not drinking. By pulling at 25 days I can have them out on the box within a week and then by 5 weeks of age they are starting to fly around the yard some. By 6 weeks they are in the air and starting to actually kit. I found I have less problems getting them in the air at 5 - 6 weeks then I had when waiting until they were about 8 weeks old. You do have to keep an extra eye on them when you pull them younger to make sure they are eating and drinking as it only takes a few days of no feed to put them way behind the others and that is usually not good for those behind birds. But I think the extra attention is worth it as getting them out as early as possible before they are too strong on the wing causes very minimal losses settling birds and I find they start kitting very quickly. Would less then 25 days be considered too early, or is Pensom right when he says 18 to 20 days and don't worry. They will learn how to eat. What does the rollerpigeon.com group think on this? Thanks, Don M. Mac's Rollers Las Vegas Roller Club
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BA Rollers
233 posts
Apr 30, 2009
11:34 PM
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I put them on the loft floor when they are old enough to stand and move them to the kit box when the feathers under their wings are almost in.
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Tony Chavarria
Site Publisher
3271 posts
May 01, 2009
4:44 PM
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Brian, are you breeding open loft? If so, then the parents will still feed the youngsters that are on the breeding loft floor, right?
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FLY ON! Tony Chavarria
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BA Rollers
234 posts
May 01, 2009
5:00 PM
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Yes I breed open loft (I have some individuals too) and yes the parents feed them on the floor. The young learn to eat quickly when on the floor this way.
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Lipper
GOLD MEMBER
567 posts
May 02, 2009
5:41 PM
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Don,
I put my squeakers on the floor at 18 days old. At 21 days they are in the kit coop. I don't even need a cage attached to let them out. They come out in a day or two and jump on top. Within 2-3 days they are taking short flights with the rest of the young birds..
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Mike Trevis
The Bigger the Dream the Bigger the Leap
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sp 19
9 posts
May 02, 2009
6:11 PM
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macsrollers I new some older gentleman that paired thier birds up early and when the last pair laid thier 2nd egg they would throw out all the eggs so every pair would lay back at the same time I never did that and not all my dirds are the same age I never counted days I will hold birds back a few days if there is youngsters close to being ready so I can start as many together as possible
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harrison
577 posts
May 03, 2009
2:37 AM
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I also start putting them on the top of the kit when there under feathers are all there and after doing this for a few days and putting them back in with there parents I find they are on the floor more when I go into the shed.
Then I dunk there heads in the water and put them in the kit box and its all down hill from there LOL...
Good look all because we all need it guys.
Yours in roll Harrison UK Hull.
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Velo99
2110 posts
May 04, 2009
1:20 PM
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I discovered another advantage to my new loft.
I have two cages mounted to the side of my loft for aviaries. The doors are about 2 feet off the floor inside the loft. I started putting the squeaks in the pen for a few hours when they are on the floor.The first group I put in flew back down to the floor about an hour after I put them in the cage. This tells me two things. One,they are moving as a group and two,they can produce enough lift with their wings to not injure themselves when they take the jump.
In my book thats kitbox ready.
I now have a test for kitbox preparedness as well as some prehome training.:)
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V99
blue sky single beat
in cadance performing now
earth beckons the winged
drawn breath is let quickly forth
orchestral movement follows
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/()_)__14___()_)\__\
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RodSD
237 posts
May 04, 2009
11:50 PM
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If you put food on their nest boxes, those baby birds will learn to eat/drink on their own by watching their parents.
I think most baby birds get weaned naturally around 4 weeks old.
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