nicksiders
140 posts
Jun 19, 2005
7:45 PM
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When talking about a kit or bird being "stiff" what is actually ment by that term?
What causes a kit or a bird to be stiff?
Can you correct that kit or that bird or do you have to restart a kit or cull the bird?
Last Edited by nicksiders on Jun 19, 2005 7:49 PM
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Mount Airy Lofts
8 posts
Jun 19, 2005
10:37 PM
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Nick,
I would call any of my birds that would only roll once every 3 minutes/plus a stiff bird. Altho I have heard otherwise because some guys would difine a stiff as a bird that only roll once or twice during the whole flight.
I believe I only heard the term 'stiff' used once to denote a team. Most guys would term a stiff team 'Flat' instead of using the word stiff. Stiff would mean that the whole team was filled with seldom performing birds... which isn't the normal for a competition flier. He may have his days when the birds are alittle too strong and just didn't want to work.
Usually too strong looking of a bird will be a stiff. Stiffs are can be bred from good parents but will be bred in more numbers from a seldom performing parent/parents.
Feed has alot to do with how often my birds would perform. I usually won't see the full protential of a bird's frequency unless it was broken way down. Altho when broken down to this point, they lose the quality. One has to find a balance to get the most out of their birds but still keep the quality it possess.
Many times the stiffs are the faster eaters.
Breeding out of stiff birds will catch up with you in the long run.
Thor
Last Edited by Mount Airy Lofts on Jun 19, 2005 10:42 PM
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quickspin
71 posts
Nov 11, 2007
11:53 PM
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When talking about a kit or bird being "stiff" what is actually ment by that term?
What causes a kit or a bird to be stiff?
Can you correct that kit or that bird or do you have to restart a kit or cull the bird?
Last Edited nicksiders on 19-Jun-2005 7:49 PM
My whole kit was very stiff as no action or breaks at all. The problem was that I had them very strong and was feeding them 15.5% of protein. My birds would fly for over 3 hours and only feeding them 1 table spoon per bird. I always had fly them twice a day since they were young, ones at 7:00 AM and at 6:00 Pm after work. I had never lock them down or rest them. They told me to feed them for one week only milo and not to fly them. I did this and the day before I would fly I fed them 1/2 milo 1/2 wheat 1 tbs / bird and they started to do a lot of breaks. I stop feeding them the 15.5% and only wheat and milo and they were not stiff any more. Also feeding 15.5% would of make them fly not high and fly like homers. I like using this food still but not when I'm training them because of the protein it has. So now I rest them for 3 days 2 days of pure milo 3rd day milo/wheat next day fly. This seems that it has work for me but I still have to play with Wheat to get them fly just a little higher.
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gotspin7
414 posts
Nov 12, 2007
5:02 AM
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Quick, be carefull with just feeding milo, they will do well for a whil but with time it start getting on the light side! Why dont you try feeding 12% mix feed or feed them a little more wheat! Quick, it is just my opinion!
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quickspin
73 posts
Nov 12, 2007
7:53 AM
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Right now I have my birds in lock down and I feed them regular mix 12%. When I start to break down my birds I use milo to break them, ones I have them in the edge I start from there. I only use Milo and wheat at the time of preparation to a fly.
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Skylineloft
339 posts
Nov 12, 2007
8:48 AM
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Nick,
Great question!!!
Quote:
1) When talking about a kit or bird being "stiff" what is actually meant by that term?
2) What causes a kit or a bird to be stiff?
3) Can you correct that kit or that bird or do you have to restart a kit or cull the bird?
1) I always considered a "stiff" a bird that does not come into the roll. Breed allot of them and it can make for one long boring year...lol
2) I think it has to do with how the birds are bred. Every family is a bit different of corse. If you do not pick some birds that tend to be on the "HOT" side to put into your stock pen, I think you could end up with more stiffs then you would care to breed. Its not natural for a bird to spin so if you do not breed towards the spin your family can become stiff.
3) A STIFF IS A STIFF. They might get better in the second year, but I would not waste my feed on them unless I have the perch space and time to fly them.
In days like these, many of us cannot afford to wait two seasons for a bird to come into the spin. I like my birds to come in around 3 to 6 months max and I want birds that like to roll. I want to be able to feed them well so they will have strong bodies without going stiff on me. Any longer then 3 to 6 months and you do not have time to find out how good the bird is Intel the second year because many of us can only fly a few months out of the year.
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Ray
Breeding Quality Spinners,
"One Roller At A Time".
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gotspin7
424 posts
Nov 12, 2007
4:15 PM
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Ray, good post!
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Skylineloft
346 posts
Nov 12, 2007
7:44 PM
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As I look closer at this thread, I see that it is 2 1/2 years old........lol
Nick,
What do you think about stiffs now?
I would love to hear what you have to say on this subject after taking everything into consideration so long ago.
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Ray
Breeding Quality Spinners,
"One Roller At A Time".
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classicpony
516 posts
Nov 12, 2007
8:50 PM
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Nick
I would comment but I think most of my birds are stiff, must be the lockdown due to hawks.
Jim
Illinois
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Skylineloft
347 posts
Nov 12, 2007
8:54 PM
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Mine too Jim......lol
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Ray
Breeding Quality Spinners,
"One Roller At A Time".
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jt smash
4 posts
Nov 13, 2007
10:54 PM
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What is meant about the phrase to(break down a pigeon) how is tha done and why. JT SMASH
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