Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1029 posts
Jun 11, 2009
8:14 AM
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Hey All, Most of this will be old hat to the majority on this list but newbies might get something from it.
There are a few low cost things that the beginner can do that will increase their enjoyment and the health of their birds.
First, and I can not stress this enough! Keep your birds and their feed dry! Water is the enemy any place except in a fount or bath.
Never fly your birds if they are not hungry. Overfeeding is the most common mistake newbies make. I'm NOT saying starve your birds! Starving is not necessary and not required. I feed my young kit birds 1 1/2 tbs. to 2 tbs., the older kit birds 1 1/2 tbs. Breeders, all they want when breeding and 1 1/2 tbs. in the off season. This works for my family but don't think this is a rule, your family will be different and their requirements will be different.Experiment to find out what is best for your birds.
Train your birds to land and trap to your whistle or the rattle of a feed can. I start by rattling the can when ever I feed and continue while they are eating. Then when the are learning to trap, I rattle the can, and then feed after all have trapped. Soon they will respond to the call and trap or land on command. Why, train them in this manner? On several occasions I've called them to land and trap when I saw a B.O.P. and or a sudden storm and or the wind suddenly picks up. Understand, why?
Worm your birds if you live in an area where they are a problem. Slowly build a basic medicine chest, do not wait until you have a sick bird and then try to rush order medicine for it.
Put a lock on your kit box's and on your loft. You will never stop a thief with a lock but you might stop an other wise honest man who is just tempted.
I'm going to stop now with the hope others will chime in and add to this post.
Thom
Last Edited by on Jun 11, 2009 8:40 AM
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shukz
12 posts
Jun 11, 2009
9:04 AM
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good advise old fart,thank you.
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Pumpkin Man
98 posts
Jun 11, 2009
10:14 AM
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To add to the list. Get your coop, loft, kit boxes, built before you get your birds. Have your kit boxes built and ready to go before you have birds to put in them. It's easy to put the cart before the horse when you're in a hurry to get birds.
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Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1031 posts
Jun 11, 2009
10:45 AM
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good one PumpkinMan!
You are welcome shukz.
Thom
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gentle johnnie
51 posts
Jun 11, 2009
5:18 PM
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Your right Pumpkin had to rush to get kit box ready for young was thinking about putting them in one with old birds but new that wasn't going to work- thanks oldfart and pumpkin great advice GOD BLESS!!----------
Gentle Johnnie "Angels of the Sky Loft"
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rookie from ct
18 posts
Jun 12, 2009
7:33 AM
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feeding tip make shure you feed with a big enought tray when my kit comes in I put a 18x25 inch bakeing pan in and still lots of pushing and shoveing
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Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1033 posts
Jun 12, 2009
9:43 AM
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When setting up your kit box, loft, holding pins try to keep everything the same. The same style water vessel, same style perch etc. Everything is familiar so there is nothing new to learn.
rookie, that is a good point and it also tells me you are not overfeeding. Way to go.
The same to you johnnie, bless you!
Thom
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pigeoncrazy
75 posts
Jun 12, 2009
12:11 PM
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Hey Oldfart, this is great advice. Being a newbie, I really appreciate it!
Question though...I have tried and tried to teach mine to land & trap on command. I shake the feed can and whsitle every time I feed them, continuing while they eat. (i'm sure the neighbors are sick of hearing me) It has been almost a year now with my oldest ones. But they will not land & trap on command. What am I doing wrong?
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MANN
24 posts
Jun 12, 2009
12:17 PM
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hey pigeoncrazy sounds like u r feeding them to much when u feed them cut back on the feed that will get ther attion.
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MANN
25 posts
Jun 12, 2009
12:40 PM
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This is one I would like to say about the topic do, not spill feed around the loft, will make birds land on the ground and in some places will bring mice and mice well bring snakes and snakes eat eggs an birds.
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Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1035 posts
Jun 12, 2009
12:54 PM
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Mann, That is dead-on, mice are trouble and can cause sickness in your birds. The wild birds can bring lice and feather mites. I also think you are right in that pigeoncrazy might be over feeding slightly. The old birds will be a little difficult to train at this point but it could be they are already trained to the feed can and just not hungry enough to obey.
pigeoncrazy, you might try cutting back on their feed slightly. I don't like to starve birds but try and find the point were they are hungry enough to trap quickly when you shake the feed can.
Thom
Last Edited by on Jun 12, 2009 12:55 PM
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shukz
13 posts
Jun 12, 2009
2:10 PM
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hey rookie from ct,is that capetown???
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rookie from ct
31 posts
Jun 22, 2009
7:45 AM
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KEEP records So you know what you have and where they are from ,I just culled 2 breeders because 1st&2nd round wouldnt kit Rookie
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Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1075 posts
Jun 25, 2009
5:07 PM
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I wanted to bring this forward to add a caution. There is nothing written in stone. The only exceptions to this would be established remedies for health related problems. When your birds are sick, do not experiment! Listen to the more experienced fanciers and take their advice. In all other aspects, listen, think and learn. Do not automatically adopt as gospel anything or everything you read. If it was that simple everyone would have the best birds and competition would be pointless. When I or anyone posts it is slanted from our prospective and our experience with our family of birds. Yours will be different. I'm not saying to ignore advice just filter it between your ears. There are many knowledgeable people who will be happy to help but you need to listen, learn and decide for yourself!
Also, rookie is exactly right, record everything!
Thom
Last Edited by on Jun 25, 2009 5:09 PM
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Rocky Lofts
119 posts
Oct 24, 2009
9:16 PM
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bump
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Cheers, Rocky
"Rocky Lofts"
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Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1488 posts
Oct 25, 2009
3:48 AM
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Rocky, I knew you were a little over cooked! :) bump Since my friend from The Land Down Under brought this forward, Be very careful flying your birds after a snow (I would not fly at all. After a heavy snow everything will look the same from the air and they could get lost. Or in a white out.
Thom
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darkhorse09
134 posts
Oct 25, 2009
4:22 AM
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A very good list of tips put together people. Many thanks
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Rocky Lofts
120 posts
Oct 25, 2009
5:06 AM
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hey thom nice to see you here, not long now we will be coming to usa . to see you and bring back some birds
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Cheers, Rocky
"Rocky Lofts"
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Windjammer Loft
981 posts
Oct 25, 2009
5:28 AM
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bump ....... what the hell does that mean???
Fly High and Roll On
Paul
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Sound Rollers
83 posts
Oct 25, 2009
5:35 AM
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Thom, All
This is great stuff, I record all the notes for future reference.
shukz, CT is the abbreviation for Connecticut, USA.
John
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Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1489 posts
Oct 25, 2009
5:57 AM
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Paul, I thought Rocky was just bring the old post forward.
John, If we share maybe some mistakes will not be repeated. :)
Rocky, I'm looking forward to your visit! Can you take birds back?
Thom
Last Edited by on Oct 25, 2009 6:04 AM
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