Birds just do'nt want to fly

[Guest Greenways]

I was wondering if anybody has come across there birds looking OK from the outside been given all the right food/water etc.But when they are let out they do not seem interested in flying(1 or 2 laps of the garden at most).They are all ages (1yr-8yr) and I can't get within 5-10 mins of the winner they do'nt seem to be racing.Any ideas :-/ :-/ :-/

[Guest spin cycle]

I was wondering if anybody has come across there birds looking OK from the outside been given all the right food/water etc.But when they are let out they do not seem interested in flying(1 or 2 laps of the garden at most).They are all ages (1yr-8yr) and I can't get within 5-10 mins of the winner they do'nt seem to be racing.Any ideas :-/ :-/ :-/

 

mine excersize very well and i'm still looking for that 5 mins (dizzy)...are you road training? how much etc...also are you loosing some racing ?

[ritchie1]

hi mine are out twice a day and three 20 mile tosses a week and are still 5 to 7 minutes behind the winner but its all distance birds i have what about your birds are they sprinters or 600 milers

[Guest Greenways]

Hi and thanks

I do train as often as possible because of the Hawks around here and the birds are mostly sprinters/middle for club racing.Cheers

[Guest]

they may be looking for more feed

its happend to me before i just gave them a little feed before i put them out

and they flew for a lot longer

the downside is they are not so eager to trap

 

dave

[Tony C]

What system are you racing them on.

[Guest Greenways]

Hi

At the moment they are on widowhood.I have tried some of the motivation that you read about using the hens (they are interested in the hens before & after the race).I give them a small light feed in the morning and a measured amount in the evening building up to the weekend. :-/

Also i am surrounded by trees and if I try to flag them they just stop after a few circuits and land in the trees

[Tony C]

When they land do they constantly fight each other or preen themselves or fly to the ground picking around.... can you tell us a little of their behaviour when not flying

[OLDYELLOW]

sounds like you have problems once birds go to trees nowt much you can do to control them other than remove those that you cant control , the other problem is having birds with race birds that are 8 years old these are past there best and will hold your birds back , it also sounds like your feeding either to little but certainlt too heavy early week better to feed light then build up as the week goes on

[Guest Greenways]

Yes when they land they all want to control the landing board and chase/fight each other mainly the younger ones and sometimes they go down to the ground but I try not to encourage this.As I said I do the basic widowhood Dep.+brewers yeast then light feed up to Wed then 50/50 and full widowhood.

Thanks for your ideas

[OLDYELLOW]

your trap should be closed whilst exercising and open on return a few small seeds on return will encourage them to trap , but having pensioner birds with young birds will hold you back as not many old birds will  want to exercise at the level you want them to

[Guest asha]

It`s the same old story son, YOUR to blame,ALWAYS,NEVER EVER blame the birds,YOUR the nucleus,everything MUST revolve around you,lads on here will try to help,but without knowing your thought processes,or lack of them,. help will be doomed to failiure,training too early, much,to cold,showing hens to often....bla...bla ...bla, the list will be long,perhaps unending,never mind ,i expect you will decide to concentrate on your youngbirdsinstead,and ruin them as well, but best advice, you will find the answer when you look in the mirror.  

[tommiddo]

i would put them on barley for a week and this should take off any excess fat and they will fly after that this is what i do

[david]

Hi mate .

 

Asha tells no lies ,but hardly constructive i think .

Have you been in pigeons long?.

I have been in pigeons for five minutes and i have learned more by reading these guys on here ...BUT!! you must only take what information and advice best suits the dynamics of your loft set up and birds  .

I tried a semi widowhood thing last year and had the same problem as you .

My birds were 20 min,s to 40 min,s behind the leaders .

This year i am flying natural on open hole and straight away... Bingo !!(from april only because of hawks)

I feed twice a day ..before they are out in the morning and when they come back in ...from late thursday i just give some energy corn and a bit more carbs

This will change to more carbs from the further the race point ..If i feel they have not had the exercise to burn of the fats then i just give them protein ...peas,..this will keep them on the edge of being hungary but build muscle while they exercise .

Widowhood is easy enough but a strict ,strict routine is needed to succeed .

(my opinion only) .Get yourself on the natural if it suits you next year .

There is nothing better than enjoying seeing your birds out and about the loft .

I believe foremost the birds need to be happy ..HAPPY =HEALTH .VITALITY.

and as far as looking in the mirror ..Alf Baker tells us it,s 60% fancier ,40% bird ..This to me is a true estimate of the facts ..

I do not train between races but if a hen misses because of being eggy or something like that i give her a couple of 25 milers ..you do not need much to jump a happy bird.

Relax and enjoy your birds .

 

DAVID

[Tony C]

It`s the same old story son, YOUR to blame,ALWAYS,NEVER EVER blame the birds,YOUR the nucleus,everything MUST revolve around you,lads on here will try to help,but without knowing your thought processes,or lack of them,. help will be doomed to failiure,training too early, much,to cold,showing hens to often....bla...bla ...bla, the list will be long,perhaps unending,never mind ,i expect you will decide to concentrate on your youngbirdsinstead,and ruin them as well, but best advice, you will find the answer when you look in the mirror.  

 

Of course your right asher, countless reasons as to why but the value in asking the question is perhaps getting a reply which hasn’t been considered.

[ch pied]

Hi mate .

 

Asha tells no lies ,but hardly constructive i think .

Have you been in pigeons long?.

I have been in pigeons for five minutes and i have learned more by reading these guys on here ...BUT!! you must only take what information and advice best suits the dynamics of your loft set up and birds  .

I tried a semi widowhood thing last year and had the same problem as you .

My birds were 20 min,s to 40 min,s behind the leaders .

This year i am flying natural on open hole and straight away... Bingo !!(from april only because of hawks)

I feed twice a day ..before they are out in the morning and when they come back in ...from late thursday i just give some energy corn and a bit more carbs

This will change to more carbs from the further the race point ..If i feel they have not had the exercise to burn of the fats then i just give them protein ...peas,..this will keep them on the edge of being hungary but build muscle while they exercise .

Widowhood is easy enough but a strict ,strict routine is needed to succeed .

(my opinion only) .Get yourself on the natural if it suits you next year .

There is nothing better than enjoying seeing your birds out and about the loft .

I believe foremost the birds need to be happy ..HAPPY =HEALTH .VITALITY.

and as far as looking in the mirror ..Alf Baker tells us it,s 60% fancier ,40% bird ..This to me is a true estimate of the facts ..

I do not train between races but if a hen misses because of being eggy or something like that i give her a couple of 25 milers ..you do not need much to jump a happy bird.

Relax and enjoy your birds .

 

DAVID

you addressed the problem's & found answer's , magic

 

 

[Guest Greenways]

Thanks for all you ideas

Cheers

[Guest Owen]

Asha, I think you are right in what you say. But there are a couple of things you should take into account. If someone does not know what to do, that is the fact. They will not know what to do. They will not get the knowledge from a dream in the night. The only way is to ask questions and read up on the subject. Hands on experience can be a way to learn but it is not very good as a rule. Besides it takes too long. Then of course there is the risk of asking questions of someone who turns out to be as rude and ignorant as you are. Nobody will want to be made a fool of, or run the risk of being ridiculed. People who deal with the likes of you should always insist on doing it from a range of arms length. Perhaps then your manners would improve. I think if you spoke to me in that nasty disrespectful way, I might get a bit annoyed. And if I did get a bit annoyed, I be sure that you would not enjoy it at all.

[Pretty Pied Un]

Hi, What are you feeding them on first of all?

 

Try a splash of  lemon Juice With Carr's Adherbs on their corn on Friday and Saturday

 

I would also ask have you treated for canker and respiratory?

 

Check to see if they have any slime in their mouths and throats and if they are gasping when they drop, even if the birds dont show any signs of slime in there mouths STILL treat them

I can guarantee you if you treat them for respiratory for 5 days this will do the trick

 

Dont forget once treated give your birds a vitamin supplement the day after the treatment ends

Preferably you would need to start your treatment on a Friday until the following Wednesday (so this does mean missing a race), Thurday give the vitamins and Friday (day of basketing) give your birds fresh water

 

Hope this helps let me know

 

Reference: OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND WORKING IN A PIGEON PHARMACY ADVISING CUSTOMERS IF NEED HELP WITH THEIR BIRDS LOL!

 

 

 

 

[Ronnie]

well  my advice would be .Never leave the trap open while cocks are out only when u want them in and second sort the feed out its either to much or to little .if your sure its right try givinghalf there morning feed before they go out and see  if that helps.Failing that i would chance the hawks and train tues weds and thurs to 30 mile.hope it helps mate.

[Novice]

Hi, What are you feeding them on first of all?

 

Try a splash of  lemon Juice With Carr's Adherbs on their corn on Friday and Saturday

 

I would also ask have you treated for canker and respiratory?

 

Check to see if they have any slime in their mouths and throats and if they are gasping when they drop, even if the birds dont show any signs of slime in there mouths STILL treat them

I can guarantee you if you treat them for respiratory for 5 days this will do the trick

 

Dont forget once treated give your birds a vitamin supplement the day after the treatment ends

Preferably you would need to start your treatment on a Friday until the following Wednesday (so this does mean missing a race), Thurday give the vitamins and Friday (day of basketing) give your birds fresh water

 

Hope this helps let me know

 

Reference: OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND WORKING IN A PIGEON PHARMACY ADVISING CUSTOMERS IF NEED HELP WITH THEIR BIRDS LOL!

 

 

 

 

Excellent post---my first action would be respiratory--Ornithosis.

It can often be present with no outwards signs except lack of desire to fly.