I don't race just fly white homers. A friend suggested this method and it seems to work fine. I built a movable stand large enough to put a wire basket on. I place the basket on the landing board and let the ybs get comfortable on the landing board. After about a week I put the stand next to the landing board, put feed out, shake my feed can, and let them out one at a time. They will hop on the board and go directly into the loft through the traps (I have bob traps now but I am thinking about a sputnik).
I do this a couple of time and then move the stand back about 5 feet. After a couple of times at 5 feet I move it back another five feet and so on until I reach about 20 feet.
Then I start letting them loft fly. They have only been flying a week and so for I have 18 for 18 in the loft. They are still flying crazy but starting to flock a little. This morning I let them out but none left the landing board. We've had bad weather (lots of rain and tornadoes, I live in South Central Mississippi) and maybe they know more is coming.
This is my first time to try training this way and it seems to work well although I did have one bird stay out overnight. I've only been flying about 1 1/2 years so I am no expert for sure but I try to listen to people who are.
I would be interested in a comparison between bob traps and sputniks. Remember I don't race but I do want my birds to return and trap quickly.
Rod
