ways to stop youngsters roofing

[Guest pied 09]

the twice my young birds have flown when out the loft , a group of them tend to sit on house rooftops for days. i made sure they were hungry enough before they were let out. i have given them baths in the loft hoping this will strengthen the bond they have there. they want for nothing grits and minerals clean water good feed. so why am i having trouble getting them in. i also shake the feed tin and whistle to them when giving food but when i do this to them out side they just look at me daft.

[Guest Freebird]

They obviously feel safe up there, is there anything spooking them?

[aye ready]

what age are they

[Guest pied 09]

they are all ages between 6-9 weeks. they been out on front of loft floor loads of times. now they have it in them to go looking they stay up there all day. nothing to spook them that i know of either. next door has a cat but i make treble sure that isnt about when they are out. they were flying back and fore a wall and loft roof, but when they get up high they land on rooftops.

[Guest Freebird]

I'd say defo something they don't like the look of and are coming in only when totally starving mate as you say they were o.k until flying higher. If it is only a few then when you get them back in keep these ones in and only let one out with the others at a time until thier confidence gets up.

[greenlands]

FEED TIN.Nothing in it untill they do what you want them to.When you feed them make a fuss of them,if you whistle to get them in whistle when you feed them,use a bright coloured container to feed them,if you hopper feed use the contaner to fill the hopper,sit in the loft with them when you feed them,do not over feed,watch them ,when they start going to the water stop the feed.Once you've got control of them start to up the feed,any fools after that nothing to eat.

Lindsay

[lawrie]

my whites  done that, 7 days they stayed up there. 2 were never seen again. its very frustrating and i felt like giving up. they did come back in the end

[Guest pied 09]

panic over. i stayed off feeding the ones who came in earlier and let them out on the front. once they saw them they came to the loft roof and were no trouble getting them in . thanks for all your help

[Guest IB]

I know a lot of advice is given about using feed tin 'rattle', but for me getting birds to recognise your voice, and obey your calls are what I concentrate on.

 

You may also be feeding your birds too much, next time they have been on roof and you get them all in, don't feed them after they come in.  Warn your neighbours that you want to stop your birds from sitting on their roofs, and when you let the birds out next day, if they go to roofs, chuck a brightly coloured rubber ball (one with plenty of bounce) up there among them. It won't hurt them or harm property, and they'll soon get the message. When you call them in, only feed those that come in sharp, let others go without. Repeat lesson next day, and as often as needed, 3/4 days should see a big difference.

[Mealy Cock]

My trick with Y/B is from the start, I would sit on the loft floor with them and feed them, and I would also sit on the lawn

And let the birds walk out of the loft, I had open door then, that is my way of letting the birds trust you

As for them sitting on the roof, use those water balloons, throw or gat them, they splash on impact on the roof.

If they don't tow the line after that it's bin time.

[lawrie]

did you let them out before they could fly?

[Guest pied 09]

yes, they was out before they could fly. they was on perches by the 3rd  or 4th time they went out. they never went further than a few yards. once they started flying confidently they roofed.

[Mealy Cock]

yes, they was out before they could fly. they was on perches by the 3rd  or 4th time they went out. they never went further than a few yards. once they started flying confidently they roofed.

 

Water balloon them, that is the small type that children play with

[Guest Davy Fleming]

Are they picking the moss when they are up there ?????????

[Guest pied 09]

i think they were. what does this mean?

[Guest Owen]

Obviously, you have got the message. Control them with your feeding. And it is a bad idea to teach them to react to your voice. Use a clicker, a buzzer or a rattle but not your voice. Pigeons are not daft and they have very acute hearing, so when you are angry or excited they will pick it up. I use a combination of peanuts and a clicker. My adult birds have all they want to eat before they go out for exercise, but, because I have taught them from babies they are rarely any trouble and they never go on the roof. If one of them did want to try it on, I would soon sort it out. To me, pigeons and roofs do not go together.

[Guest Davy Fleming]

pied 09; Just what OWEN

[Guest Davy Fleming]

SORRY GIVE ME A MINUTE

[Guest pied 09]

hi davy you asked about them picking at moss shal i keep a close eye on those birds. will this do them harm.

[Guest Davy Fleming]

pied 09, Just what owen is on about , I never shout on them cause they aren't  really interested but I DO use a wee BELL from the minute I seperate them from the nest and they get to know why I use this pretty quickly.   They also come out the sky like torpedos when the time is right . As far as the roof is concerned I now suspect they will have fungal problems if they have been eating the moss and must be treated

[Guest pied 09]

are there any signs of this  to look out for. i know testing is the best method . what is recommended if there are fungal problems found through treatment.

[Guest pied 09]

ive got a refferees whistle but my neighbours dont take too kindly to it at 6.30 in the morning.

[Guest Davy Fleming]

pied 09 , Have a look tomorrow when you let them out and if they go to the roof and stay there you can shout all day but will assure you they won't come down as they will just peck about the moss which is extremely dangerous to them. Also when you feed them go in yhe next morning and see if any are hunched up just pick them up and feel there crop you can be pretty certain they will still have food in it

[DJWa]

not only fungal but they can pick up any disease from wild bird droppings on your roof or gutters

 

 

[Guest pied 09]

ok thanks. can this be passed on to other birds