Is there a different, easier process for training new squeakers once you already have a flock traine

[LamarshFish]

My older homers load in my toss cages as soon as they are put in place. That is one of the benefits of my system along with the familiarity with some of my birds.
You can ignore or customize your set up to met or reject any or none of the information suggested. That is some of the benefits of the site it makes you aware of different systems where you decide to employ them is entirely up to each individual.

You have to get them to load in the cages which you transport them for flights on their own volition? Is it bad to grab them and put them into the transport cage? That is what I was planning on doing when I start doing flights/tosses, because I didn't think there was another way. I can't really think of a way to train my birds to enter the transport cage....

 

[Hokum Coco]

Is it bad to grab them and put them into the transport cage? No I have been doing that way for years. I can't really think of a way to train my birds to enter the transport cage..Use shelled unsalted peanuts as a training tool that is my secret..

 

[LamarshFish]

I keep hearing people say to use the shelled, unsalted peanuts, but so far, when I offer them from my hands, they do not seem interested at all yet. They might not be hungry enough to want the peanuts from my hands, I might be feeding them a bit too much. I feed them morning and night, and only about half the time do they finish everything, other half they leave a few small pieces of the tiniest grains (milo maybe).

 

[biophiliac]

I think you might be expecting too much, too soon

I suggest this: First teach the birds how good peanuts are...Take a piece of cardboard(so nuts wont fall thru wire) and place a SMALL amt of nuts right before feeding. So small that birds dont all get some if they dont hustle. Step back to point where birds will eat. After the few peanuts are gone then feed normally. After a few days, they should(at least the bravest one/s) start to move forward when they see your hand coming to deposit the treat. Move slowly, talking to them softly. As the days go by they should become 'habituated' ie more trusting and the bolder will try to rush to your hand and grab the bigger share of the limited resource. When the first one actually takes a peanut from your hand you have made a tremendous amount of progress. Others are encouraged through 'observational learning' and things should move faster from there. Once they will eat from your hand then you can give each one the treat individually.


If they leave only a small amt of the smallest seeds you are probably feeding about right.

 

[barn206]

Hi Lamarsh
I use to give the birds shelled bazziini peanuts as well. I mixed the peanuts in the feed. No a lot but "i" adddd it to the feed because they are healthy for the birds yet expensive. As Hokum said you will see everybody does things a little different. You'll do what works for you . You just don't know it yet . The more you investigate/ask questions/trial and error, the more you learn. ( I'm going through this with the chickens right now) sooo ...
Did you let your birds out yet? Are they walking around the roof of the coop? As soon as they start flying together( following each other in some form of pattern then you can tossed them up maybe a block/1000' away from the coop. But the key is "Don't rush them" as Biophilliac said. Give the birds a chance to get use to the roof of the coop and their surroundings on their own. Are you going to fly them from the yard? How far are the neighbors? Also where are you flying them at because different temperatures affect what you should be feeding the birds at different times of the year. In the summer birds will eat less corn than in the winter. Are you north or south?

 

[biophiliac]

Quote:
Check out this link to see how this guys birds load in!!!!!

 

[LamarshFish]

Hi Lamarsh
I use to give the birds shelled bazziini peanuts as well. I mixed the peanuts in the feed. No a lot but "i" adddd it to the feed because they are healthy for the birds yet expensive. As Hokum said you will see everybody does things a little different. You'll do what works for you . You just don't know it yet

. The more you investigate/ask questions/trial and error, the more you learn. ( I'm going through this with the chickens right now) sooo ...
Did you let your birds out yet? No, not yet. I am now just starting to let them learn how to use the door. I attached a temporary, training aviary to the front to train them to use the bob door, as well as get a different view of my yard since my only aviary is that large one on the left side of my loft.

As soon as they start flying together( following each other in some form of pattern then you can tossed them up maybe a block/1000' away from the coop. But the key is "Don't rush them" as Biophilliac said. Give the birds a chance to get use to the roof of the coop and their surroundings on their own.

Are you going to fly them from the yard? At first, only for training, and that is because my neighbors are right next door to me, I live in a semi urban area, with houses directly next to each other. My neighbors are all friendly, and they know I got the pigeons, and I told them I plan on using methods to keep them from hanging on our roofs (I hope I can follow through with that lol) How far are the neighbors?
Also where are you flying them at because different temperatures affect what you should be feeding the birds at different times of the year. In the summer birds will eat less corn than in the winter. Are you north or south? I am in SE Michigan. I am currently feeding them a pigeon seed mix with small amounts of corn. I plan on supplementing this mix with whole corn during the winter for the added fat content.

Thank you for your help!!!

 

[LamarshFish]

Quote:
Check out this link to see how this guys birds load in!!!!!

That is such a great idea. Very simple as wel, I like it