Darkness Youngsters

[Bad Trapper]

Hi All,

I wonder if any of you young bird experts can advise me. Due to my shift change for next year my youngsters will have to be put out in the mornings before I go to work in the afternoon. For years I have always had mine out in the afternoon/evening and always after 2p.m. What I am asking is it more risky letting them out in the morning, and could anyone offer any advice on the matter.

Also my Darkness youngsters (first time on it last year) took ages to get into the air, even after changing the food, any suggestions would be appreciated

 

[nogin]

Hi All,

I wonder if any of you young bird experts can advise me. Due to my shift change for next year my youngsters will have to be put out in the mornings before I go to work in the afternoon. For years I have always had mine out in the afternoon/evening and always after 2p.m. What I am asking is it more risky letting them out in the morning, and could anyone offer any advice on the matter.

Also my Darkness youngsters (first time on it last year) took ages to get into the air, even after changing the food, any suggestions would be appreciated

 

WHAT TIME DO YOU START IN THE AFTERNOON M8.

[Tony C]

lol I'm far from a youngbird expert but here goes. Your going to have to let them out before your of to work so its just finding a way to suit. You'll want them back in the loft at least an hour before you leave as they'll have to eat and get a good drink before you darken them of. Vic I believe put a post on here somewhere saying that he is going to let he's darkness youngsters wake up to natural light (open the shed back up of a night to let the morning light in) I think you should look at doing this. If i were to do this I'd have them out around 11 o'clock.

I think a big mistake fanciers make in trying to get darkness youngbirds to fly is giving them too much in the way of fatty seeds, add barley to their feed instead.

[jimmy white]

the first year i started on the darkness yb,s they were much the same as yours[even allthough i changed the food]they were fully body  moulted ybs ,,like turkeys i finished up [not liking it , but finding it neccessary]  using the flag  ....., after a few days of  this , they soon found out  what flying was they then" scouted "or "ranged" for hours.

as for your first question,, a lot of fanciers dont like letting them out early mornings ,, after i had done the w hood cocks from 6am till 7 30 am these ybs were out , and did these fly , i am only giving you my veiws on this , but had a very successfull yb season with these birds [ i altered my darkness times to suit]   

[WulDon]

darkness youngsters can be lazy buggers, once they have tidied in the moult get them in the air (i chase them with a brush) and lighten the feed.

 

once flying good and off the darkness i have them out as early as possible in the morning, as this is when we train so it keeps everything the same, feeding etc... keep it simple.

[PATTY BHOY]

always found y/bs exercising at night after 5pm,do better .

[pigeonscout]

lol I'm far from a youngbird expert but here goes. Your going to have to let them out before your of to work so its just finding a way to suit. You'll want them back in the loft at least an hour before you leave as they'll have to eat and get a good drink before you darken them of. Vic I believe put a post on here somewhere saying that he is going to let he's darkness youngsters wake up to natural light (open the shed back up of a night to let the morning light in) I think you should look at doing this. If i were to do this I'd have them out around 11 o'clock.

I think a big mistake fanciers make in trying to get darkness youngbirds to fly is giving them too much in the way of fatty seeds, add barley to their feed instead.

 

This is good answer and I would do as you are saying if I was in his position.

One tip and a very big tip is when the young birds are not flying freely at the start of the year feed them 75% barley 25% flax seeds for 14 days they will start flying for hours about the 8 to 11 day.

[budgie]

The ideal time to let them out is around mid-day.If the feeding is right and they are healthy they should be able to fly for around two hours.When they drop get them in (keep them on 1 ounce )and get them back on the darkness around  5.00pm.

[tskyes]

LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF WORK MY WIFE USED TO OPEN THE SHUTTERS AT 12 MID DAY,I USED TO GET HOME AT 5PM HAVE THEM OUT AND SHUT THEM DOWN AT 8PM,I DID WELL SO I WILL DOING THE SAME THIS YEAR.