Jigger
3 posts
Jan 15, 2010
8:11 AM
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My wife says she would enjoy hand feeding and petting some of the birds or have them set on her shoulder or arm if she could gentle them. How would she go about doing that?
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Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1607 posts
Jan 15, 2010
8:30 AM
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Jigger, If you let your wife pick one for a pet, NEVER fly it! She will not be happy if a hawk takes it. :(
To tame one start when it's young and just handle it. Let it get hungry and it will eat from your wife's hand. The more she handles it the tamer it will become.
Thom
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Sound Rollers
179 posts
Jan 15, 2010
8:58 AM
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I was just going to say the same thing Thom, the key to training any animal is reward, either in the form of praise or food, in this case food.
John
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Jigger
4 posts
Jan 15, 2010
9:22 AM
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Thanks for the replies. What would be a "treat" that she could give the birds that they don't normally get in their feed? I feed 1/2 wild bird seed that consists of milo, cracked corn, sunflower seeds and whatever else is in it along with 1/2 wheat.
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Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1608 posts
Jan 15, 2010
10:37 AM
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Jigger, Sunflower hearts would work but they are really high in fat, so not as feed but as a treat in small quantities. The bird I'm holding is not a pet but is just tame from handling. John is right and repeated handling will work as good as food.
Could I ask how you came to use the feed combinations you do?
Thom
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TheGame
676 posts
Jan 15, 2010
5:28 PM
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Keep the birds really hungry and show it the feed. They will automatically come to you. After they have learned you can just stick your hands out without food and some of the birds will still land. I dont know how long they will stay but it works for me lol.
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Squabby*32
142 posts
Jan 15, 2010
9:20 PM
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Put them on a starvation diet and they will eat from anywhere you put feed. One day without food should do the trick. If it does not, try two days and it will surely work.
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DJJeffman Spinners
ATAPWGIYAHTLY
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Jigger
5 posts
Jan 17, 2010
8:15 PM
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Oldfart, I use the feed I do because I'm new to the game and it seemed to be a well rounded diet. I'm a know-nothing really. Do you have something you need to tell me about my feed?
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belle
334 posts
Jan 17, 2010
8:34 PM
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Or you cuold just get a hen horseman pouter, if you keep her away from all other pigeon she will pair up with you.
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Justin
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JBow
153 posts
Jan 17, 2010
8:46 PM
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Jigger. Just let your wife pick a baby that is pinned out and is eating grain and let her raise it by hand feeding it. She will have to open the birds beak and drop food in but it won't take long and the bird will imprint with your wife and that bird will make a great pet. Actually ring neck doves make great pets. We had one for years. We only let it out at certain times (after pulling the food and water from the day before)Less mess lol. They are very intelligent and do well interacting with the family. Jim Bowen Kansas
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wannaroll
109 posts
Jan 17, 2010
10:27 PM
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Hey Old Fart, if that bird only knew where that hand has been??? LOL
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Dave - Hesperia, CA.
(San Bernardino Mountain Spinners)
Last Edited by on Jan 17, 2010 10:52 PM
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Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1610 posts
Jan 18, 2010
5:52 AM
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Jigger, I think starting out I would feed them a good pigeon mix or pellets. The pellets insure all of your birds eat the same but mix has raised many a good roller. I feed my breeders straight pellets and my young kit birds 50% mix and 50% pellets until they are through their first moult. Also, if you feed nothing but a mix make sure they get oyster shell grit.
Dave, If I thought about were that hand has been, I would not be able to eat! :)
Thom
Last Edited by on Jan 18, 2010 6:36 AM
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fhtfire
2449 posts
Jan 18, 2010
10:15 AM
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If you want a bird to sit on your hand and pretty much be like a parrot. Just grab a little baby when they get the pin feathers...and raise it yourself. It will not even think it is a pigeon.
My son and I raised a little baby and the bird is in the house in a cage. It has no fear of humans at all...she actually thinks I am her mate. When she sees me she woos...and when I put my hand in the cage she runs up and starts cleaning me with her beak...like I am her old cock bird...LOL...she sits on my shoulder...hand etc....if I take her in the loft..she freaks...she wants nothing to do with pigeons....during the summer I will let her fly...and all I do is whistle and she comes down and lands on my hand..
Those Sac fliers that have seen her will tell you she is like a parrot....
rock and ROLL
Paul
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JMUrbon
860 posts
Jan 18, 2010
10:45 AM
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She is like a perverted Parrot that is in love with Paul. LOL. Actually shes pretty cool. Joe
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J.M.Urbon Lofts
A Proven Family of Spinners
http://www.freewebs.com/jmurbonlofts/
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JBow
154 posts
Jan 18, 2010
9:32 PM
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Pigeons and doves make great pets. There very intelligent and the best thing is that they don't bite the hell out of you. Our pet dove ruled the roost with our dog. He would coooo to her like he was in love. I raised a commey a long time ago and name him red hawk. He had the run of the back yard. When i left he would follow me and land on my shoulder. Pigeons are smarter then we give them credit for. Jim Bowen
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