My new Indian Fantails!

[rodriguezpoultry]

Went to an auction today and just fell in love with these beauties. Please comment on them and tell me what I can improve on with them. The (I'm assuming) female appears to have some black smut at the base of her fan.

 

[sport14692]

They look really nice, Congrats !!!

 

[gunnarwordon]

saw your post on Southern Chicks group too, I love the birds! I am overrun with fantails now.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Thanks gunnar and sport! They haven't died yet, so that's a Plus 1 in my book!

I can't get ANY breeders to contact me back or find a forum that will allow me in. I've tried joining several and keep getting declined. I've emailed the admins...no response. Oh well.

Guess I'll just have to "wing it".

 

[jak2002003]

I used to keep and breed them.....any white homers, normal fantails, and some other breeds.

If they get dirty, they will soon get clean by themselves if you allow them to have a bath in a large tray of water with several inches of water in it. They are so easy to care for - more so than chickens. If you have a pair, you will soon have lots more fantails!

You can allow them to free fly once they have settled, and its lovely to see them around the garden. Where are you keeping them? I found the traditional dovecotes were very difficult to clean. I used to keep mine in a covered aviary, and they had a 'cat flap' like door so they could come and go, or I could lock them in if I was not about to watch for cats.

I miss my birds now!!!!!

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

I can't let them outside. They would be devoured within an hour. With the amount of cats, coyotes, fox...They would be gone. They are inside of a very large pet carrier (size for a Border Collie or larger).

Is there a way to get them to breed? It looks like they are molting, so I'm doubtful I'll have any youngsters for awhile.

 

[jak2002003]

You can not keep them in the pet carrier forever! They need exorcise to remain fit and healthy. Can you let them out anywhere in your home to fly around? I think you need to build an aviary in your garden for them. Pigeons and doves also need natural sunlight (not through a window) to make vitamin D. Without this they will lay thin shelled eggs and also likely to become ill over time.

You will get great pleasure watching you doves fly about and sunbath in the aviary, and they will be much happier. Then you can even let them out to free fly if you are in the garden to watch them. They are easy to train, and will come back to you when you rattle a tin of food, then you can shut them in the aviary again.

Once they start breeding they are very prolific and you will soon have many more doves! Then letting them out is not so bad as you can allow for a few losses once in a while. The population will soon recover!!!!

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Apparently they've decided to molt. There are feathers EVERYWHERE. Can I let them fly in my barn to let them get exercise? I can only let them out for a bit. They definitely do not seem very agile. Don't seem to fly very well at all.

 

[gunnarwordon]

Is your barn all sealed off and no windows open? if ANYTHING gives them an oppurtunity to "fly the coop", trust me, they will! let them around for a little while though if its all sealed off and see what happens........ can't hurt to try, eh? When you need to put them away, try to grab them, or with a net...... it may be difficult, as they will do anything to avoid the net.

 

[superchiken123]

is that even a chiken

??????????