How long?

[Lance]

I recently bought 4 6-8 month old homers.  How long should i wait to let them fly?

[john robo]

i got a pair of yearling this year, i let them settle in for about a month. for 2 weeks after that i let them out everyday but with there wings soaped. there still in the loft now.

[Lance]

i got a pair of yearling this year, i let them settle in for about a month. for 2 weeks after that i let them out everyday but with there wings soaped. there still in the loft now.

 

How do I soap the wings?

[Wiley]

did you want to break them out to race lance?

[john robo]

i rubbed soap on most of the flights on one wing they looked like they just had quills. then when they came in i let them in the avairy for a bath. there was a thread on here about soaping wings last week i think.

[john robo]

http://www.pigeonbasics.com/forum/blah/m-1163936761/s-4/highlight-soap/#num4

[Lance]

did you want to break them out to race lance?

 

No, just to fly for the time being at least.

[Wiley]

well i would let em see out much as possibly and when there on eggs start letting them out they may go back but collect them after that should be fine

[Lance]

i rubbed soap on most of the flights on one wing they looked like they just had quills. then when they came in i let them in the avairy for a bath. there was a thread on here about soaping wings last week i think.

 

So the idea is to make it so they can't fly?  Or am i getting something wrong there?

[Lance]

well i would let em see out much as possibly and when there on eggs start letting them out they may go back but collect them after that should be fine

 

By collect you mean pick them up from their old loft?

 

Other then that, when they're on eggs would be the best time to let them fly?

[john robo]

thats right lance get them familiar with there surroundings

where the door/trap is. soap them less when you think its time

[Lance]

thats right lance get them familiar with there surroundings

where the door/trap is. soap them less when you think its time

 

Ah, excellent.  And if they do leave, I only live 15 minitue drive from the person i bought them from, and they're pretty reasonable people i think, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

[Wiley]

if you soap them mate they aint gunna be able to fly

[birdman55678]

It would depend on if they had been flown or not.  If unflown you may still lose some but always start ybs as soon as possible.  Ed

[DEEJAY]

As i recall from years passed, old timers would call them prisoner birds and wouldn't even consider flying them until they had raised a couple of hatches in the loft! But that was a long time ago what do those old timers know anyways lol!

[Lance]

As i recall from years passed, old timers would call them prisoner birds and wouldn't even consider flying them until they had raised a couple of hatches in the loft! But that was a long time ago what do those old timers know anyways lol!

 

That's interesting.  So after a few clutches (my favorite stock pair just laid their first pair on the first of the year) They will return to my loft?  I don't think they've been flown in a race or anything seeing as they're white homers and ya dont' hear too much about them racing.

[Guest shadow]

If your stock birds have been prisoners for a long time at other lofts chances are when you let them out thery will fly off never to been again believe me I have tried it  and paid hundreds for them. :)

[jupiter_19630]

I usually break my birds in about a month.

I have built a viewing cage that fits over the landing board. I leave the trap open  so that they can fly onto the landing board.

About a week before i want to release them I start shutting the tbird in the cage, and then opening the trap door to teach them to trap.

When I,m ready to release the bird I place it in the cage for an hour then remove the cage right before I give the afternoon feed.

The next day I remove the cage 15 mins before the afternoon feed.

I gradually increase the length of the afternoon release.

Once they,ve been coming and going ok in the evenings for a few days I start letting out as normal with the other birds.

Lost 3 before I started this method. Lost none since.