Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1239 posts
Jul 20, 2009
4:06 PM
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Hey all, I'm going to try to keep this question simple but... I am in a total lock down, I'm trying to fly smart but each and every time, I get hammered. I've flown every odd time I can trying to get past a female Cooper's hawk. She is relentless and almost never misses. That's my situation, this is my question.
Before lock down I had a young cock really starting to spin, with style and as good as I have raised in five years of breeding this line. I looked forward to flying each day just to see his improvement. O.K., that's not the only reason but this bird would make me smile. Then @%#$, B.O.P. hot on his tail, he slipped her but she scored on a sibling. That is the setup for my dilemma. Even if the B.O.P. goes away, I don't want to risk him. Under these circumstance's would it be unreasonable to stock him, almost unflown. I do know the potential as 90% of my loft is comprised from his parents. My real dilemma is that I can only keep a small number of stock birds and to keep this one means another must go.
Your thoughts would be gratefully appreciated.
Thanks
Thom
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rollernutz
80 posts
Jul 20, 2009
4:36 PM
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Oldfart, I think that most of us face the same dilemma. We all have those "special" birds that we think could be the "one". With BOP situation the way it is we have to make tuff decisions. Fly the birds and risk losing them or stock them early and not really know their true potential.If you can resist the urge of fying him, I would lock him down till next year. If you only keep a small # of stock birds anyway (assuming that breeding season is over for you) I would do one experimental breeding with the young cock, while he's on lockdown just to see if he's worth stocking and fly him and his young out next season to see what comes out of it. That way you kill two birds with one stone for next season, you can see what he does as a breeder and still fly him out next season to see if he truely is that "special one"(That way all the curiosity is gone).That way you won't be tempted to stock a bird early that has not truely proven himself..........JUST MY TWO CENTS. KEVIN.....GOOD LUCK!
Last Edited by on Jul 20, 2009 4:37 PM
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PR_rollers
GOLD MEMBER
3219 posts
Jul 20, 2009
7:44 PM
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Good post Roller.....Thom I had one like that and I had to lock down but I didn't breed from it I let it fly after lock down it wouldn't roll even after 6 month of flying wasn't the same..but a pair I took and bred from flew 1 yr and a half and after I got ten youngsters from the pair using fosters I put them back up because I knew BOP won't be around for 6 month this pair the second day kitted like it never been out and still roll the same with quality and control and the youngs are all rolling and like a team togther they started at 3 month some at 4 and 5.so now I will stock them so I won't lose them but I have a good pair.now I will see if the youngs will stay stable for 2 yrs..
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Ralph.
Life comes down to the choices you make, and then living with the results.
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donnie james
582 posts
Jul 20, 2009
8:21 PM
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hay thom answer your question i would go ahead and lock him up before the hawk gets him because hes going to get better as time goes on ............donny james
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Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1240 posts
Jul 21, 2009
5:10 AM
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Hey Steve, You are right. I know it is best to fly him out but he has enough air time that he might be able to resume next year. The main reason I'm so enamored with this bird besides his aerial display is his disposition. He is an easy keeper, never tries to avoid being handled, defends himself but rarely starts a fight. I expect he will be a good breeder, easy on the squabs and his mate.
Thanks Steve
Ralph, I think it's worth a try. The alternative is to risk losing him. If I get clear skies before fall I will try for a little more airtime with him. I do know what his siblings are capable of so I'm not totally in the dark.
Thanks, Ralph
Donny, You clinched the deal. I'm putting him up unless I get clear air to fly him in.
Thanks Donny.
Thom
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Sunflower
GOLD MEMBER
468 posts
Jul 21, 2009
7:14 AM
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Thom,
I would stock him and fly out the young. With those two nesting Coopers it would be playing Russian Roulette with 5 cylinders loaded to continue to fly him. I had a similar situation in the train up to the WC this past spring. I lost 11 birds in 4 weeks after being locked down for months. I pulled 4 birds out of what I had left of my A kit because I just did not want to lose them. I have some young out of those birds that I am flying now. Hopefully, I made the right decision.
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Keep em Spinning
Joe
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bman
690 posts
Jul 21, 2009
7:17 AM
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Thom, LOCK HIM DOWN.Come spring run a few rounds off him and put him back in the kit when it is safe.You know I am flying rubys and trust me 95% come right back to form and improve in there second year.
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Ron
Borderline lofts
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Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1241 posts
Jul 21, 2009
8:01 AM
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Hey Joe, Of course you are right and he was not the only bird spinning! It just hurts to have one that is really starting to crank and then have to lock him down. It also would be stupid to keep flying him.
Thanks Joe
Hey Ron, I have noticed the same improvement in their second year and I am going to lock him down. I'm starting to understand the early signs in the good ones, family wise, so I have more confidence in holding him over the winter.
Thanks, Ron
Thom
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Tony Chavarria
Site Publisher
3464 posts
Jul 21, 2009
9:44 AM
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Thom, good choice.
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FLY ON! Tony Chavarria
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Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1245 posts
Jul 21, 2009
12:13 PM
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Hey Tony, All Ruby! I did not hand tame this bird, this is just it's demeanor. When it was very young I thought it was a hen.
I was wrong it is all cock!
It is in the ten to fifteen foot range with good form and frequent. The way it started I would expect it to deepen over time. Most of the cock's in my family are in the twenty to thirty five foot and deeper range.
Thom
Last Edited by on Jul 21, 2009 12:18 PM
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bman
691 posts
Jul 21, 2009
12:16 PM
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Thom, although it is a hardship I feel compelled to have you send him up here where he will be safe.Lol
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Ron
Borderline lofts
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Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1246 posts
Jul 21, 2009
12:20 PM
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Ron, In 2011, him and a daughter, or a pair of his young next year. You choose, my friend. :)
Thom
Last Edited by on Jul 21, 2009 1:45 PM
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rolleronnie
40 posts
Jul 21, 2009
2:24 PM
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Fly him... dodging Falcons must become part of his training. Only use a loud whistle when you hear the warning signal for B.O.P. or see it for yourself. This will teach the birds to land quick. Deterring Falcons is part of a Pigeons genetic instinct, they must be flown to help tap into this skill. It's unfortunate, but it's part of life.
Ronnie.
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The Greatest Aerial Acrobat!
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Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1249 posts
Jul 21, 2009
3:38 PM
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Thanks Ronnie, I guess I'm just a big chicken but I like this bird so I think I'll keep him up. :) plus, I promised him to a friend in a year.
Thom
Last Edited by on Jul 21, 2009 3:51 PM
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PR_rollers
GOLD MEMBER
3231 posts
Jul 21, 2009
3:41 PM
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Thom Up or in..
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Ralph.
Life comes down to the choices you make, and then living with the results.
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Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1250 posts
Jul 21, 2009
3:53 PM
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Ralph, Up as in, put up, not flying, in the barn, looking on as others fly...... :( I really do know and will not risk him. Your a good man my friend.
Thom
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bman
692 posts
Jul 22, 2009
8:16 AM
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Thom,your too generous.We still need to get together and fly.I know it is short notice but the club fly's this saturday if your interested. There will be three of us.
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Ron
Borderline lofts
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Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1252 posts
Jul 22, 2009
8:35 AM
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Ron, I would love to be there but unfortunately I can not. :( The offer is open ended, you are welcome anytime ( with a little notice) :). The birds however are still yours when you want them.
Thom
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bman
693 posts
Jul 22, 2009
9:28 AM
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Thom,I am good on birds right now,but I'll take a rain check you never know.ANYTHING you need you just holler. The next club fly is scheduled for 8/15 keep it in mind. Thanks again
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Ron
Borderline lofts
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