In the Box or on the floor. Cocks for Distance.

[Guest]

I have found the best way to tame young birds are to put a fold down shelf on one side of loft or small table and have them about 18 ins of the floor. When you wean the young birds they will be on a bed of straw or shredded paper on the floor or about a week before they can fly to their perch. When you enter the loft put their food up on the shelf and lift each young birds hold for 10 sec's and then put it up onto the shelf to feed.

After a couple of days they start to associate your hands with something nice i.e. food and in 4 or 5 days they will be running to you to be lifted to the food and they will never fear your hands again. It is time consuming I know but it pays of later when you are taking them training as you can lift them straight of the perch with one hand. There is nothing as bad as chasing a bird round the loft to catch it for a race. The last thing that bird remembers before going to the race is not his motivation but some nut case chasing it all over the loft. If pigeons do not fear your hand they will fight it.

 

Hadn't heard that before ... great idea thanks

[Guest IB]

I race Natural, and feed and water in my nest boxes.

 

I think the main disadvantage is that it is very time consuming.

 

I think the main advantages are that you know exactly who is eating / leaving what, and the water system is a lot cleaner and more hygienic with max of one pair and 2 youngsters drinking from it.

 

My youngsters copy their parents: by 21 days they come to the galipot when called, they find the water in the box, and are self-sufficient long before they are split.