Question about tameness

[Okitsme]

Just a quick question. I was wondering if it would make any difference to my racing if my birds were not tame? At the moment they take off when someone comes close.

 

Regards

 

David

[pjc]

I feel it is always nice to see the birds tame. If they are always on edge what are they going to do on race day when they come home and there is somebody in a neighbours garden etc? They will just fly arround or sit on the roof. If you keep your birds tame and calm they will not get upset by any strange noises etc.

I visited a very good fancier once, we went into his widowhood loft and he said watch this, he dropped his food tray on the floor with a bang and not one single bird flinched, they just didn't care they just sat in there boxes. He never had a bad trap or birds sat on the roof!

[THE FIFER]

if they are tame they are happy so would rather have that than the other way, i cant stand those birds that go beserk when you go in the loft, it upsets the rest,

[chickadee]

Yes I would agree with the fifer, would rather them come running to me rather than from me, they are definately a lot better to be tame.

[Guest shadow]

the tamer the better

[883girl]

So what it is the secret to tameness then, just spending a lot of time with them?

[Wiley]

tameness will not make your racing performance better or worse, tame or not tame ive seen winners in all shapes, all sizes and all moods,  

[Guest j v ward]

So what it is the secret to tameness then, just spending a lot of time with them?

 

if you feed peanuts that helps to tame them

[madmaxlofts]

i like them tame but not to tame ,ive had two birds in the past what flew on my head in the garden tried coming in the house following me and they become a favorate

then you send them and they seam to have become daft and you lose them and feel gutted

im not saying i dont hand feed them peanuts to get them used to me but thats as far as i go

at the end ov the day thery are supposed racing machines not pets or i would have cats instead

[Guest Paulo]

I wouldn't really say tame more like happy the birds may not neccessary stand on your shoulder but they should be comfortable with your presence in the loft with out looking twitchy and flying at your face.

[snowy]

I think the tamer the better, get them tame by food, cut it down & feed out the hand, this way they will trust you & this could come in handy

[Guest IB]

I think tameness comes from the birds' environment and the way the fancier behaves in that environment. Low ceilings, small sections, deep box perches, no pigeon sitting at higher than your eye-level anywhere in the loft; walking among them, no sudden noises or movements - always slow and deliberate, stop or step aside to let them walk past, pick them up rather than catch them; feed them in their box, make eye contact and talk to them, and never walk past a bird without talking to it etc etc

[doo.racer]

Birds, though tame in the loft, are normally less so out in the open. When a tame one is on your hand in the loft it will normally fly as soon as you step outside. Although tame birds can bring much pleasure, I don't overly encourage so that if I quickly pop into the loft for a moment when about to set out for the evening in fancy dress, they don't land on my shoulder covering me in sh!t

[pigeonscout]

Tame is better, 1 the birds will not be stressed when you are in loft, 2 they are easy to basket to take training, 3 they will remember the motivation you give them before a race. wild birds only remember getting chased round the loft to be put in basket.

Tame does not make faster or slower birds but is helps to make the loft a safe and stress free environment for your birds to return to.

[DOVEScot]

I think they should be more relaxed in the loft when you go in rather than tame, Chickadee can walk throughout the lofts and they do not bother, some are hand tame but not all, but all are confident she means them no harm. if I walk in they behave entirely different because I am rarely in the lofts, so they know the difference to different people :-/

This is too tame ;D ;D ;D

 

[jimmy white]

tameness causes birds less  stress ,, the more stress you can keep to a minimum the better

[phillips]

i feed my race birds as much as they want and when i call them in after exercise the yearling have just startd to land on me now i normally time my cocks in on the garden on race days they are that tame well happy and content is the word i think

trust is a must with your birds

jason

[just ask me]

i think it starts even when they are young ones even in stock loft just getting them to pick from your hand so that when u move them to young bird loft u should see them running too your feet as they know from a young age that your are food and they will be used to your hands best flyers ive seen seem to have there birds tame and best flyer in my area his birds will pick at your hands when u are putting another pigeon in race basket just my toughts on all this is true that u will get sum bad tame ones of course but as i say in the top lofts ive been in birds will not move and fight for there box even when a stranger puts his hand into it

[Guest Vic]

Not long ago, Whilst cleaning my car in the front garden, the w/hens, on a Saturday morning, (a few hours before liberation,). would parade up and down the roof, watching me. A couple of "friendly nods" between us, would see them all down on the cars roof and bonnet in next to no time.When you have 'em like this, You will not be far away.