THEMAN

I just received some young birds from a local flyer who has a good track record both breeding and racing. They flew the birds this year as young birds, however did not do a lot of training. They did an "experiment" with these birds in that they did not start training them until the season had already started and all the birds flew to the 400 mile race. Not sure how they placed but they did return. They gave me these birds as breeding stock( as I am a new flyer with no breeders) but another flyer said that I should try to settle them and fly them to see how they perform before breeding from them. This is a good idea but my thought is what if they all do not return I'm out of breeders and the folks that gave me the birds are moving so they will not be able to return them to me as the lofts will be moved as well. They come from good stock as I mentioned before the flyers that gave them to me have excellent breeders so the lines are there just not sure of the preformance. I just would hate to loose them but do not want to breed from them if they are not a choice racers. One other thing this morning when I went to feed them one of them unbeknownst to me got out of the loft and when I exited the loft noticed it trying to get back in through the aviary. I opened the aviary to expose the landing board and the bird flew right in as if it were one of my own youngbirds so maybe there is hope of resettling them. Any insight would be helpful in my decision. Thanks.

No haven't changed the feed.

I have noticed some dark green droppings in the loft. Similar to color to steamed spinach. All the birds seem well and no other signs of illness. All seem to have recovered well from the hawk attack (see previous post). Not sure if this is something to worry about or not. I asked one of the local fliers and he said that there is someting wrong with the gut. Whatever that means. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks. Tony

Ok so just yesterday I opened the landing board to allow my late hatches to see the world with out the "cage". They were milling about on the ground and on the landing board for about 1hr or so. None of them to to flight as this was their first time out. I was writing a research paper about 5 meters from them so that I could keep a watchful eye on them to "protect" them from predators, when out of nowhere a hawk hits the landing board were some of the pigeons were. Luckily the pigeons on the ground must have seen him coming and jumped, spooking the birds on the landing board, thus making the hawk miss. The hawk hit the lading board and went careening off the end were it came after another pigeon flying towards me. Well by then I was on my feet and runing towards the hawk yelling and cursing. The hawk cam at me and I swung at it hitting its tail feathers and sparing my little petrified late hatches life. The hawk tumbled over the fence into the neighbors yard and was not seen again. My babies were all over some high in the air some in the loft even one under the car. lol. Luckily they did not fly off too eradically and I got them all back. I just couldn't believe this, I mean I had just read the posting on birds of prey the night before and have only read of such incidents, never, ever thought that I would witness it first hand. Not to mention the fact that I live in them middle of the city! Amazing! I opened the loft today and well, I was not suprise that only one bird came out the others did not. Stating no thanks, one near death experience is enough for us!