breaking birds

March 8, 2009

hi members i dont usually ask many questions on the site but this one baffles me after keeping them for 50 years .

why do birds brought in as squeakers , but not had their liberty for twelve months or more

never or very rarely stay once they do get out , after all they,ve no where else to go , and in case anybody asks they have been in 2 or three diferent avairies so have had a good look round , for some reason they seem incapable of turning once in full flight .

or are they just brainless

Whats it called Cumbernauld · March 8, 2009

Its got to do with the fact they have never been out.when they get there freedom they are off like a shot.They maybe know local things because of seeing out the loft or avaries,this does them no good at all when they find themselves 30 miles from the loft. Not brainless at all

Would never consider keeping young birds as prisoners because of this

blaz · March 8, 2009

its good to be free and thats just what the birds have done i go back in it might another 2 years b4 i tour the skys again but thats just my opinion

kirky · March 8, 2009

Its got to do with the fact they have never been out.when they get there freedom they are off like a shot.They maybe know local things because of seeing out the loft or avaries,this does them no good at all when they find themselves 30 miles from the loft. Not brainless at all

Would never consider keeping young birds as prisoners because of this

i have to agree ybs never settled in the first place will do this every time, thay have only known a confind area once out in the big open sky thay will panick and be miles away, best bet is to keep them in.

March 8, 2009

My main experience of this was when starting up again, and (in my opinion) made the mistake of buying prisoner stock bred from prisoner stock; of those 5 birds I managed to break only 2 - a 2-yo hen, and a young cock. Homing is a skill. There is a saying 'if you don't use it, you'll lose it' and I think prisoners do lose this ability. Also pigeons love to fly, stopping them doing something they love has bound to have some effect on their bond with home. These are some of the reasons I don't keep prisoners.

March 8, 2009

I to have admit that I have not done very well at breaking birds that have not flown out before. Just recently, I have come up with a new idea. I have been wondering, if we fitted the birds with brails a bit like pheasants and let them get used to wondering about in the garden before we gave them their freedom, would work better. I friend told me that he uses soap on their flights to prevent them flying before he allows them to take off. If anyone has got a method of breaking these birds, I would be glad to hear about it.

March 8, 2009

i woud,nt mind so much if they stayed in local area ,bit of a chance then , but even when they have for up to a week sometimes , they seem unsociable , wont join your own flock flying about , had one last year sat in a tree 300 yards away for over a week ,kept taking off all the time but would not come near loft or garden , its quite open where iam as well

my mates callme a jammy b,stard cause i can allways use birds out no trouble.

April 4, 2009

this year i have broken 22 ybs and not lost 1 i went away for 3 days and my neighbour looked after my birds and 3 have gone just disappeared typical but i broke all these birds within a week of having them

OLDYELLOW · April 4, 2009

i have to agree ybs never settled in the first place will do this every time, thay have only known a confind area once out in the big open sky thay will panick and be miles away, best bet is to keep them in.

cough what about the old 38 grizzle cock bred 93 and rest of my stock i gave you when packed up due to family matters ???? not one had been in a avairy or seen the light of day but you settled them all so not all birds panic and shoot of but id say 99% of them do

April 4, 2009

I to have admit that I have not done very well at breaking birds that have not flown out before. Just recently, I have come up with a new idea. I have been wondering, if we fitted the birds with brails a bit like pheasants and let them get used to wondering about in the garden before we gave them their freedom, would work better. I friend told me that he uses soap on their flights to prevent them flying before he allows them to take off. If anyone has got a method of breaking these birds, I would be glad to hear about it.

I put the thin black tape around the birds flight feathers and let them wander around the garden for 2-3 weeks before letting them fly, and when i let them back in i put them in a cage on the bobwires and call them in that way.

Lloyd

Roland · April 4, 2009

One has often believed, thought that a pigeon forgets. Of course this is not so, - one needlessly nedn't go through countless known facts to know this. The pigeon, regardless of age, stays and homes simply because it wants to. Indeed confinement seems to strengthen a need to be back where it wants to be.

So simply a pigeon has to accomandate and perfer to be where it is NOW!

To break a bird properly rgardless of age is to allow the bird to adopt with Freedom and asense of safty. Simple that.

We've all been amazed when we start training the nestling from one side of the box to the other, the ajacent loft when you often were surprised t see them back in the ole nest boxes - indeed many birds back from an long period are often found there.

But then, I'm just an laymen that says it sensibly.... best get a rocket scientist I guess to trup it up and add thousand on could be's and maybes I suppose.

Like breaking points.... No such thing, can't and coldn't be. Indeed to even believe as such is - when actually thought about it - is ludicrious. But getting the mileage under the wings, regardless what direct is important, like wise the Stiffness one want to impose on the bird.

You want a breaking point! Look at the wind. Take the Arc etc.

I have, as many here have, seen birds battling to home with a side head wind or such! Have notice it's constant swerve to rejust it direct! Even spout Friday night with pretty good acrucassy - via the wind, where the winners will be in the morning!

How a 'Good Un' comes on line! That is why those that can afford to buy their location DO! Simple again I guess. Yes an 8 ounce ball of fluff, bone and feather can't / won't dictate to the wind.... ships can't - thay set the course OFF line for the Wind / currancies even, to end up on course at arrival.

When I flew to Canada, they had a Chart up for th passagers to see their journey.

Was a dotted line which had be planned, and a solid line where the WInd would take us, having to go Way out and over B.C and aboveeven to eventualy follow a line down Quebec.

And fanciers- those with glib tongue that tickle eager ears crap - that one has to get their bird fitter, faster, more determine etc. etc. And just maybe 150 fancier in vastly superior lacation will all have a 'Off Day'

To put it bluntly, I fly against Bristow, Tasker, Newborn, Geoff Clare etc. etc. with out going up to Loagh, all Between 70 and 100 miles 'East' of me.

Say, in a North Westerly Wind from Frazerbourgh, by how much will I beat them all.

And If I could.... though logic tells us it can't be done, did get my birds in beter condition, shape and Health - there their reputatations have all just gone up in smoke lol - I will beat tem by even more!!! I'll bet you could even get a bet o them beating me lol :P ;D ;D ;D

Hope you don't bump your bed when falling out and waking up.... Must be the Strong coffee.