Settling New Pigeons

[Guest]

I see from the 'Lost Pigeons Board' another case of what appears to be an attempt to settle or 'break' pigeons to a new loft has gone sadly wrong. Around 20 are missing and the guy's cleaned out. I think there's few things worse than that can happen to someone just starting up.

 

Think it would be helpful if members posted how they go about settling or breaking new pigeons to the loft, including how long it usually takes to do this.

[THE FIFER]

if they are good birds i would always take youngsters from them if i wanted to break them, birds paired will break better also if you take youngsters from them at leased yo have something if u loose them, but they must be kept in lone enough to let them get really used to the loft, and give them a good view of outside, you must give them time, in the loft

[jimmy white]

ive been very lucky breaking pigeons quickly ,, one example receiving pigeon after flying dorchester 21 days later to the day was 101st sartilly ,,this bird i took along with its mate nest pan and eggs , as they were in bottom left box in old loft , put them in same box in my loft , with a board in front of box,, gradually shifted the board further back [as they sat ok] but were a bit wary , anyway , bit by bit managed to do without the board and kept them sitting , once they were loose in the loft and still sitting [cock locked in sputnick then let in to sit ] then let cock out , retreived it a couple of times the same day [previous owner about 5 miles away] the bird went back to an emty loft [no boxes] then began to look as if was heading my way , so it was then locked out and chased then returned to me, this was all done in a few days it then had one training toss ,,,north,,from freuchie, and dropped to me ,,it was then sent 505 miles dropped early next morning and should have been 92nd [nat had wrong distance] but it wasnt making much differance, so accepted position ,,,but all this was in 21 days   

[jimmy white]

black cock flown alencon , never was paired that season , simply paired the bird , started driving like mad ,,out with hen homed in 4 days [it didnt know quite where it was ,just kept driving the hen , after hen layed settled no prob [flew 400 mile this year after 133 mile trainer ]

[jimmy white]

settled this  years ybs from 5 miles away in 4 days by putting them in basket each day on top of loft ,,feeding conditioner to others around the basket , letting them see this, each evening put conditioner in sputnick ,lifted each bird singly held them for a min or two let them see around then popped into sputnick , after 4 days let them out hungry let them have a pick then got them right in , then extended this , they were flying around in a few days

[jimmy white]

got a few darkness ybs [after losing one and breaking one in 4 days ] these were from a distance away ,snipped the unmoulted flights [seemed cruel but not so] this way they were out, seen the place , able to bath etc get a little sun [position themselves],hand full of my own moulting mix outside ,then fed inside  walloping through moult now , flying from roof to loft every day now . one i lost was reported 14 days later ,,out the next day , flying freely with them now , tame as can be

[jimmy white]

i think confidence in owner ,, seeing the surroundings, goes a long way in breaking them

[chickadee]

We usually keep ours in for at least 3 to 4 weeks, also like to get them out into avairy during that period to let them see all around them. When we break birds into a dovecote, we also keep them in for 3 to 4 weeks but we cage or net the dovecots so as they can go in and out it and see all around them.

[DOVEScot]

I think there is a lot of theories and they work for some and not for others. it all depends if they are Sqeakers, YBS, Stock birds that have never been out or  Stock birds that have beeen raced before

It's easier to home if you have other birds sometimes

Cocks are easier to home if you pair it to a homed hen

Wait till the eggs are chipping before you let them out if it's their first time

Wait till the second round of young

Just a few of what we have heard and tried with varying success :-/

[Guest]

I'd a few bad experiences when I first started back again, lost 2 cocks right away, one after the other, but took my 21 days break time rule from my first and only success at that time, a yearling hen that had never seen the outside world before, never mind flown out.  :'(  Used an aviary, bird was in it every day, and also took the bird outside and showed her the front of the loft, and the way in. Let her walk thro doors on her own after 21 days.....

 

Used same method with her 3rd mate, a young cock trained and raced out to 257 miles, was November but allowed them to pair, and in aviary every day. He didn't like it when she was outside without him. On 21st day he was allowed out with her, thought I'd blown it, he disappeared on me, but I knew he was local because I could see a pigeon quartering the sky 'I know I live about here but I.m not sure where' till late at night, long after all the other wild birds had roosted. Hen had gone back in loft but wouldn't come back out, she was really upset her cock had disappeared, so I put her out 1st thing next morning, and she brought him down and in, kept them in 1 day, and out they went next.

 

I started with 2 birds.  ;D

 

 

[Guest]

6 years later, and I've recently settled 6 new pigeons, 4 untrained late breds in one group, from 4 different lofts ; and 2 trained to 100 miles in another group, a surprise gift given to me after I'd broken the 1st lot and seperated my cocks and hens.

 

First 4 pigeons were given a section to themselves with access to a veranda with a glass roof, use it for all my YBs so they can see out & get their bearings before going out. Used time partly as quarantine, and to get the birds used to me and under control. After 10 days they got run of the loft and aviary, but always came back to their own section, where the were fed. Cock & 3 hens. Cock paired with them and claimed section.

 

During second week, they were put in a basket and sat in garden in front of the loft for around an hour, the other birds wandered around them. Took them out basket one at a time and showed them front of the loft and way in by walking with them to doors, and 'throwing' them thro doors into aviary and corridor leading to own section. After 1st bird had gone back to its own section, repeated with 2nd bird etc till all birds were back in section, then they were fed.

 

On 21st day, after other birds had their fly, cock was allowed to walk out the door ... after he came back in: a hen; after she came back in, another hen, etc. Was very reluctant to let them all out together until each had been out & back on their own. When they did get out together, two disappeared on me, but again I put the rest of the birds out next morning and they brought them down.

 

I did exactly the same with the gift pair, they were given the corridor to themselves, first job quarantine and get them used to me and under control. Out in basket together as before. On 21st day after other cocks had their fly, cock was allowed to walk out the door ... OK. Next day, after other hens had their fly, hen was allowed to walk out the door ... OK. Next they were let out together [with the hens] and OK. They were split after a week, and go out with respective hens or cocks.

 

I have found it is always easier to break pigeons when I already have other settled pigeons, I use these to keep the new birds on the ground or roof long enough [an hour is long enough] so they get a good fix on their surroundings and if they do then go for a spin, the others are kept out to bring the new birds down.

[Guest wattle]

bruno them 20 youngsters that i lost were eight weeks old, had them out flying around for three weeks, in the pigeon game 29 years now , ghangeing from fancy to racers.

[DOVEScot]

bruno them 20 youngsters that i lost were eight weeks old, had them out flying around for three weeks, in the pigeon game 29 years now , ghangeing from fancy to racers.

 

Like I said nothing works all the time, I think it's as idividual as the bird and the keeper, to what works for some and not for others :-/

[Guest]

:B would be interested to hear how to settle birds at a new location ? especially if you have none flying out ??  thanks in advance .          andy

[Guest]

bruno them 20 youngsters that i lost were eight weeks old, had them out flying around for three weeks, in the pigeon game 29 years now , ghangeing from fancy to racers.

 

Sorry about that misunderstanding - thought you were trying to settle new birds - what happened?

[Guest wattle]

don,t no, flying around they house as the done everyday, after a few minutes looked for them in the sky no sight of them, gone  :'(

[chickadee]

don,t no, flying around they house as the done everyday, after a few minutes looked for them in the sky no sight of them, gone  :'(

 

Was that just recently? They might still turn up.

[883girl]

Found this thread really useful - us newbies can learn so much from you guys ;D

[THE FIFER]

the best way is to have them paired, as they will have something to want to get back too, also if you take youngsters off them first, you always have something if you lose the others,  i think young birds which are flying out etc going to a new loft are the worsed to settle without pairing up, and if they have not been trained out ,

[Guest wattle]

 

Was that just recently? They might still turn up.

 

three weeks ago last wedensday, but the good news is i took out a female sparrow hawk today and you would not believe what it was killing a magpie, god i love my pumpaction shotgun, you just can,t beat they twelve gauge,thats three in 6 mounts  ;D

[Guest]

don,t no, flying around they house as the done everyday, after a few minutes looked for them in the sky no sight of them, gone  :'(

 

That's a strange one. Have heard of 'flyaways' many years ago, but thought that was a thing of the past. Even a young inexperienced team getting 'lifted' by older pigeons training or racing and dragged miles away, you'd expect some to break-off and make their way home, or at least have some reported ...

[Guest]

:B would be interested to hear how to settle birds at a new location ? especially if you have none flying out ??  thanks in advance .          andy

;D ANY DETAILS  ;D                 andy

 

 

[jimmy white]

make sure the birds can see their new surroundings, either aviary or wire mesh crate on loft top , make sure the birds are happy in their new surroundings , confident ,, let them out hungry, in the evening , get them in asap , repeat

[Guest]

make sure the birds can see their new surroundings, either aviary or wire mesh crate on loft top , make sure the birds are happy in their new surroundings , confident ,, let them out hungry, in the evening , get them in asap , repeat

;D thanks for the info Jim , would you put a time  limit on , how long at new location ??       thank you                              andy

 

 

[WulDon]

nothing better than an avairy, if bird is familiar with its surroundings then they always seem to work way back if shut out at other end... overnight if need be, i have wire doors inside my loft doors which remain open on good days, good enough for breaking birds.

 

a cock driving mad and let out with his hen wont venture far, a hen on due to hatch eggs even if ventures to her old loft will generally be back on her nest by night fall.