When do I let them fly ?

[Guest cosmic dave]

I have had my year birds in the loft for eight days now, I have put them in through the trap a few times each. The birds are all still sleeping on the loft floor, a couple perch from time to time in the day. Are they still to young to let out ? do I have to wait til the are all perching at night ?  :-/

 

David

[Guest mick bowler]

david are you using a sputnik trap?

[Tony C]

They're ok to be let out now Dave. Open the doors and leave them to come out under their own steam, they may not venture out for the first couple of days but don’t worry. They're vulnerable to cats at this age so don’t turn your back on them. Enjoy.

[Guest cosmic dave]

Thanks tony. Yes Mick I am using a home made sputnik type trap.

[Guest mick bowler]

Thanks tony. Yes Mick I am using a home made sputnik type trap.

 

All you want to do is open the front flap and put a board up so the birds can walk out on it an (might need supporting underneath) the one i use is 4ft by 2 ft. I have found they come out and get going a lot quicker.

 

YBs should be naturally inquistive (if healthy), and as soon as they start sitting in the sputnik i put the board up for an hour or more a day (supervised).

[Guest cosmic dave]

The birds will sit in the trap all day now, the problem I have is cats i seem to be having a running battle with one of them, I will wait til the weekend now when I can spend all day watching them.

 

David

[Guest mick bowler]

The birds will sit in the trap all day now, the problem I have is cats i seem to be having a running battle with one of them, I will wait til the weekend now when I can spend all day watching them.

 

David

 

An hour should be fine, keep them fairly hungry (not starving) and soon as you want them in put some food in trap and close front flap.

[holmsidelofts]

I have had my year birds in the loft for eight days now, I have put them in through the trap a few times each. The birds are all still sleeping on the loft floor, a couple perch from time to time in the day. Are they still to young to let out ? do I have to wait til the are all perching at night ?  :-/

 

David

 

What we do is let them out for 5 to 10 minutes then get them in, keep doing that until they are confident of going in and out of the trap. as others have said keep them a little hungry at first so you have control over them. When i want to call them in i put there food tray on the floor, fill it with corn and call them in, this is done everytime they go out, if they dont come in then they dont get fed, sounds harsh but good trapping is where races are won or lost these days, what you are doing is conditioning them to know as soon as the trap is open that there food is there ready for them, they learn very quickly that way.

Jas.

 

 

[shaun h]

let mine out day after got them they cant fly so its easier to settle them they wouldn't come out at first but soon learned. now they enter loft on my whistle they also not bothered about the kids next to them when they're out think it makes them feel secure .

[Guest vander mungo]

let mine out day after got them they cant fly so its easier to settle them they wouldn't come out at first but soon learned. now they enter loft on my whistle they also not bothered about the kids next to them when they're out think it makes them feel secure .

 

sound advice on here at all times lads gave you plenty,  just ask  its here.

[Guest Owen]

I find it to be a good idea to help them build their confidence by getting them out before they can fly. When they take off they will get back to the loft that little bit quicker and better. When your doing this, it is a good idea to stay near your birds in case a hawk decides to have a go at them. Hawk attacks on baby birds outside the loft will cause chaos.

The best way to stop the cats from bothering you is to get yourself an electric fence. The type they use for farm livestock. No cat will attempt to go through one of those.