My Babies got their first look
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At a cat to-day!!--Not to worry--it made tracks when a 22 landed in the plywood--just beside its head 
--no-one damaged, no-one unduly stressed!!!!--Hooray!--They also got their first look at a hawk today---and froze!!!--I think it was a young Coopers--(reddish/rust breast-black dots) or a Merlin--but I think too big for a merlin---again--I was close by and no stress---just a particularly close attention to the bird--I think they had a very close look ---and will remember the view quite well. Also I had 4 that went out of sight to-day--maybe for 5 minutes. And they have only been here for a week to-day!!!!!!!!!!!--How about that---Al
AL,
YOU'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING NOW AL BY HAVING A LITTLE FUN.
YOU'LL ALWAYS KNOW WHEN THERE IS A HAWK ANYWHERE IN SITE, BECAUSE ALL YOUR BIRDS WILL HAVE THEIR HEADS COCKED TO ONE SIDE LOOKING UP AT HIM.
I am indeed starting to have fun, they are all different--kinda like the guy's here, on the discussion page,some bullshit you---when they squeak when you get too close, some just eat, and crap, some make you laugh, like when they jump at something imaginary---over and over---when you really know that they are just trying their wings, and some just sit--in the background, complacent---watching things go by--never getting excited---doing what they have to do to get by---a little grub, a good place to rest--some sunshine, a shelter---and screw the world--Maybe we REALLY can learn something from them???
LOL Al, your going to be a problem! To damn smart to fast. Enjoy the birds, much more inportant than much of the B.S. posted here.
---Thanks ---Al
Just one little question F. You're not feeding them before you let them out are you??
Bob---I let them out---usually for an hour or so---I am trying to let them find their owm schedule--I feed them about 9:30 am---but they seem to be not interested till about 2:00 in the afternoon---right now I am more interested--as they ARE just babies, in making sure that they have lots to eat,but when they all eat--I take what is left away. I let them out at about 7:30--8:00 am--and feed later They are seemingly having a hard time remembering that they need grit---and to-day--finally they almost cleaned all of their food up---this is thanks to a good friend who gave me timely, good advice. I will begin training them to food as they progress---and learn, first off, that food comes in the little bin that I made---and made available to my babies--any advise or comments welcome ---Thanks ---Al
Thats fine F. I just thought that you might be feeding them first then letting them out. It's an old trick used to make them fly around home for very long periods when you can't toss them???? They will fly for three and four hours with a light feed before hand. Like all animals pigeons are best trained through hunger. Keep them hungry and you have them under control. It's better to under-feed than over-feed at least until they are racing. Pigeons should always be ready to eat even after a meal.
Did you know that most domestic pets are killed through their owners feeding them wrongly??
Thanks for the tip. Yes, I have had plenty of pets, and I know the fine dividing line between being "properly" fed and overfeeding. I do understand that you can "kill with kindness"--I also see them on the ground pecking away, which I am told is instinctual for them. I still plan on feeding the way I have done, to make sure that I --understand what is going on, as I have re-iterated oh so many times--"I am new at this and taking things so very cautiously"--as I gain knowledge and therefore confidence, things that are being told to me here, should manifest themselves, as both the birds and I mature with each other.As I see it my main job is to make them happy, warm, sheltered,fed and watered and healthy, and most importantly to watch them closely so that I can learn what they have to teach me---Thanks ---Al
To-day--I felt as if I had lost 4 birds--they are the ones that went out of sight yesterday, and this time they were gone for perhaps an hour, there was one bar bird, my special mealy bird, and two nest mates, the checks, I just about had heart failure and was ready to start calling my 2 friends about what I should do, I checked again, and there they were--on the ground, pecking away-----they really DO know where home is!!!!!So I guess that I should quit worrying now Thank You once again Frank!!!!!!!---Al
Well one thing for sure, the beauty of this game is that 'THEY are free' and once up in the air and out of site there is nowt you can do but wring your hands and rue the day..... When in sight there is a little more. hence a rigid feeding regime is all purposeful.
Well what a difference a day makes eh! ... was going to sling a sneaky one in this week - end, was pretty confident that they would know I was there like. First race South was a 250 miler,also in the National etc. Won't waste me money sending now, every cloud has a silver lining eh!
North was a 290 miler, really felt good about that too, just knew I was pushing for hat North slot, in the Amalgamation too! DARN!
This morning bird have lost it, wettish droppings, three hens - all same family - all droopy and snotty look a right sight they do. BUT they feed NON stop and are constantly on their nests defending, all three generations same.
Had put the food on High Energy and Green leaves too!, not enough body in the grub. Now lacking minerals admono etc. and all careless thinking on my behalf.
Be at least 2 weeks to get them around, what a T**t I am, a right plonker. inadvertonly took the system right down. Now a trip to get pure spring water twice a day. Grit minerals galore.
Thick solution of Glucose and Brewers Yeast sprinkled and socked in honey. THree days and them feed heavy and start tossing. Soon as wieght is a little heavy I'll seperate and let them fret the excess of while training. Will in two weeks be hard and corky again and ready to home fast hopefully!
What a twit am I!! Still you others note, complacency always BACK fires. usually big time! lol
And am now three y/b's away already, down to 21 of 24, and two of them are back after a couple of nights away. that is good I feel, but most haven't even moved out the open doors yaet, just nose about, take a looksee and move on back in.
Got one back on Loft this Morning, Have 3 three more to pick up, and one coming from Up North1 So that will be 26 all told soon . if They stay.
Let them open loft again to - day, a few venture out a few fly around, and NEVER all out or what n't. So have three weeks to let them Knit. Then they will range, Plenty of time for them.
In fact I firmly believe 'Egg or Young in May will fly all the way.
Infact if June rythmed that would be June the tune to be all and I know they will fly easily upto 300 miles or more as y/b's and take all the beating.
Oh yes Well said Bob: By Mreyesign on Sunday, September 29, 2002 - 02:40 am: Edit above posts in a reply to Fouram.
Indeed when training it may well be different. Like I have posted and 'NO ONE' has picked up on it. Nor asked 'How' or even 'What the F**you on about. 'Get them Loft fit and they are ready for Racing'! I believe that it is because 'WE' feel better for it! But then when finished rangeing, Light HIGH energy food will make them fly hard in short spurts, THEY are ready!
Missed out this week for first races. But tell you what, they WILL BE HARD TO BEAT IN TWO WEEKS, FIRST RACES, A FEW TOSSES because I will have made them heavy to bring down the wieght to match THEIR mental state and a fine balance will be acheived.
Well WHAT a Difference a few days make, birds starting to fetch a purly picture . might give them a couple of small chacks and Race them this week - end all being well, certainly seem 85% ready and that is good, need a little more wieght if I am / was to train it of.
But then with a little more regulat 'Spring water' brewers yeast sprinkle on Honey / lemon they will gorge themselves and retain all that they WERE LACKING in quantity. If just do that for a week more then train heavy they will motivation TAKE all the beating, If good enough they will be in top twenty this week in both clubs North and South, which ever I send either way!
Week after I would / will expect top ten placings and packed in at that.
Have a 460 miler penciled in for a little hen. Two tosses and a 112 mile race Saturdy, rested and little Chuck Tuesday and bet she is MY first bird back . fancy her to do well, and In July I wil enter her - ALL being well for the Gold Cup from Lerwicke. Only a Two year old, but has flown 400 / and 460 as a yearling though was in fact only a LATE bred. Done the same last year, so have a little time for her. but we will see1
Seem that this topic on this sight may be renamed Roly's progress lol...
Golly June is here and I haven't even had a race proper yet lol.
Still if I get them on song in two to three weeks, then the form SHOULD hold for the rest of the season or nigh on, I'm a thinking. Golly still have some First rounders to take away, and some have even raised a round yet, niether will they now...