steve49
234 posts
Sep 09, 2009
5:46 PM
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i was thinking about how no other breed requires so much intense scrutiny and know how. think about racing homers, they cull themselves! i mean, a bird that races home 400 miles, he's given another chance to get lost, and if he doesn't, he may one day make it to the stock loft. afterall, if a homer can't find his way home, he can't pass on any bad traits. or good ones either. the roller, well, that's a whole different ball game. the kit manager has to cull the birds based on his/her skill in breeding and finally getting the performance that is desired. i can only imagine how hard it will be to cull borderline birds. so this post was really a nod of approval, and a kudos to those who have worked so hard to get this breed to the level it has achieved. when i got my first kit of youngsters going this summer, i thought, wow!, i've got spinners. NOT. sure, they roll, some deeper and more frequent than the others. but what will i use for breeding? what birds will i use for the upcoming 11 bird competition? what variation of feeding, flying, and management will i use? there are so many variables that it is really easy to mess up on any of the numerous areas that are required to produce a good spinner. what i thought was so nice in July, i'm looking at much differently in early september. i can only hope I attain the skill and determination to advance my rollers to the highest level. do i even have enough time?
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Steve in Blue Point, NY
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Sound Rollers
27 posts
Sep 09, 2009
5:57 PM
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Hey Steve, if you don't mind me asking who's line of rollers do you have?
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John
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steve49
235 posts
Sep 10, 2009
2:20 AM
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J.L.Smith and Ron Kumro
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Steve in Blue Point, NY
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Buck
8 posts
Sep 10, 2009
7:40 AM
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Skycutters !
For me, Serpasti Skycutters are . They are lazy, don't fly well, usually have to be tossed to get them up, need some wind to stay up. If too much wind, they wind up gone for good.
They more, or less hover in one place & are raised by the wind.
However, when you do get them up & flying, with wind just right, it's really great ! They go straight up Hover stay pretty much in one place & come down the same way ! Hovering, no circling. They are "setting Ducks" for BOP !
Buck
Last Edited by on Sep 10, 2009 7:45 AM
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Windjammer Loft
942 posts
Sep 10, 2009
8:23 AM
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steve49...first of all, if your a "newbie". I would give myself at least 2yrs trial and error. I wouldn't be so concerned about breeding. Work the birds that you already have. Get to know them first. It might just turn out that you don'e have any in this kit that are worth breeding. Patience is the "key" Then things will fall into place as "your" experience developes...
My Oreintal Rollers...by far have been a real learning experience compaired to the other rollers I have. I have to put in "much more" time and patience with these preformers...lol. Sometimes to the point of wanting to get rid of them but, "patience" gets me back on "focus"
Fly High and Roll On
Paul
Last Edited by on Sep 10, 2009 8:27 AM
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steve49
238 posts
Sep 10, 2009
12:33 PM
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hey Paul, i'm in no rush to get breeding. Mike Rose (finished 1st in the US worldcup this year) bred my two kits for me. he was trying to get me to start breeding from the birds i'm working with now. i just don't feel comfortable doing that just yet, as i want to see what they do as yearlings, and THEN make a decision as to breeding them or continue flying them. of course, if the hawk problem takes too many, i'll either have to get some more kit birds from somewhere or breed my own. i've read here so many times about birds developing later, and early developing birds not doing much as they get older. when i said i'm not sure about how much time i had, it was really a fact that i'm 60, and was hoping to start my own family of rollers asap. so many on this forum like Ralph and Thom have preached patience, that it did sink in. i'd hate to start breeding, and find out my stock isn't up to the task. i would really like to pick out of the air a really nice pair from a successful breeder's program
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Steve in Blue Point, NY
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maxspin
365 posts
Sep 10, 2009
1:16 PM
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Paul,
I have started with Oriental Rollers this year as well. They make the Birminghams feel easy.
They have just started to stay up and fly, and still have not done more than tail ride.
I am having to work at it to keep enough patients to fly them out and give them time.
Keith
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harrison
1243 posts
Sep 10, 2009
2:54 PM
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from what i have readed over the last 2 years on this and the uk forum Mason birds sound verry hard to work with
flying and in the pen.
Like i said.
just what i have readed
harrison
Last Edited by on Sep 10, 2009 2:58 PM
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Ty Coleman
707 posts
Sep 10, 2009
7:29 PM
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Keith good luck with the fors. The only thing I liked about them is there ability to foster my rollers, I have one pair that has fosterd 5 squeks at once. Not trying to down anyone but I feel all the hype was just a sells gimmick for the birds because around here the coopers liked them better than the Birms so I would hate to see how well the Perry's would dine on them. I also have Mookees which make very fine fosters and they are fun to have around, they will come off the nest to beat on you.They are real cool birds to have. As far as family's of Birms the Danny Courtney and James Turner family's are very easy to handle and are great to work with.
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Ty
Vapor Trail Lofts
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stiff
80 posts
Sep 10, 2009
8:33 PM
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Buck i have some ukranian sky cutters and i really like them they remind me of a kite they fly straight up and hover over my place the only thing that i dont like about them is that they dont like to fly long. the reason why I have them is I was thinking if i ever get an overfly i would just fly them and hope my rollers will see them and attract them.
Clayton
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Windjammer Loft
949 posts
Sep 11, 2009
8:02 AM
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steve49.... It's good that you have a mentor like Mike Rose. Sounds like you got your head in the right place and will do just fine in the future. Good luck.
Keith... Ya, the Orientals do "push" you to your limits...LOL My Orientals are about 6 mo old now and that's about all I get is some tail riding too. The best is yet to come....Just be "patient"....haha. Good luck with them, Keith
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Fly High and Roll On
Paul
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J_Star
2171 posts
Sep 11, 2009
7:16 PM
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I will take the culls of the hand of somebody who has been breeding his birds for 20 plus years and very successful in his region and competition and breed them than pick birds from the air from someone who has his birds from questionable sources and been with birds for a few years.
Jay
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diamondrollers
330 posts
Sep 16, 2009
10:05 PM
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i have to agree with jay. if you take birds from a respectful flyer who has done well in comp not just one or two years but many you have a good chance to get a hold of some good breeders. I've seen it again and again guys pick there best in the are and never reproduce or come even to what that bird did in the air. there more to it then just what they do in the air in my opinion they have to do it in the air and on the ground breeders look like breeders kit birds look like kit birds period. look if i was to go for exsample to kenny billings house to grap some birds i wouldnt even ask him to fly for me. what i would say to him whats availible but them in a show cage and let me pick them of the ground i want breeders not kit birds like i said breeders look like breeders and kit birds look like kit birds. Most guys dont agree with me or others that think this way but to each his own. it worked for the greats in the past why wouldnt it work know?
sal
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RodSD
346 posts
Sep 16, 2009
10:25 PM
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The hardest for me about this breed is that they seem to attract BOP. And if the are exposed to so much predation, it will be hard to know which bird you have that has the potential to breed. I mean their lives may have been cut too short.
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