thirsty returning birds

[Guest]

Sorry Jimmy, I garbled my last post. Following tips from 'basics members I put YBs not away to race in basket overnight Friday / Saturday, for feed & water training.

 

Race put back 24 hours so 7 were in basket last night for an overnight. That is their 3rd stint ... and still haven't seen them drink, and on release this morning, one of them headed straight for drinker.

[jimmy white]

ah ,,got you now bruno, but it does make you think ,,if this is the case ,, there must be a lot in the transporter like this,??  i my opinion if they drink even once in the basket they'll remember ,, wonder if you fed these birds in the loft ,,,,with no water,, then basketed them then after a short while they should be wanting a drink,, put the drinkers on the basket and let them hear you pouring the water in [the splashing etc]  when bird drink they tend to see the others ,and [hopefully  ] cotton on ,, but their stuborn little so an so,s

[Guest]

Picked up from a study that its not much fun for YBs in the race basket. The researchers filmed 'snapshots' of their behaviour over 24 hours and found around 70% of their time is spent just standing still. This 'Inactivity' was thought to be for protection, as just as soon as one bird moved, it sparked aggression in others close by, pecking etc., and sparked a chain reaction thro whole basket:-

 

"Young pigeons higher metabolism due to growth may explain 5% higher heat production than OBs., and 2.5% higher body weight loss through increased body water loss. If this water loss is not compensated by a higher water intake, more body weight is lost. Water intake was rarely observed due to experiment design. Time spent immobile was 13% higher in young birds, which may show general ‘inactive’ tendency, including going to the drinker. "

[barlblofts]

a teaspoon of rice on basketing day about 3pm with plenty of watter to drink rice holds watter

[Guest]

Well the birds are heldover at Otterburn today, soon find out tomorrow if they drink in basket or not!