observation of birds coming off roost?

[centrarchid]

Coldest morning yet for winter of 2010-2011. Dom rooster (Dave, dominant member of flock) flew down from roost and walked half of distance to feeding station slowing down as he went. He stopped, alternated which foot would be favored, then walked back roost and flew back up. Just over 5 minutes later Sallie, then Eduardo (both American games) flew entire 120+ feet to feeding station. They flew with ease and appear to have gotten about 15 feet above ground at about 1/3 of distance. Did not glide at all. Why not? Dave then fluttered down and ran to feeding station, and through a drift which appeared to startle him. Dave then went to town on feed but no chasing. Red jungle fowl came down from their roost about 5 minutes later.

I suspect they will forgo using shelter today despite cold and stand around feeders all fluffed up like a bunch horses around a round bale of hay.

I wonder if morning fly down from roost serves as warmup for day so more flapping preferred?

 

[sunshine23]

Quote:
LMAO! that's exactly what mine do! it's pretty funny to watch, and then they start running all over the yard

 

[centrarchid]

This morning I observed entire coming off roost sequence. First, both roosters stopped crowing. Second, all birds began stretching and yawning a lot. Third , just prior to launch they began to make a wirring call that ended like a cackle (only context vocalization made?). Fourth and finally launch, Sallie went first and Eduardo less than half a second behind. This time maximum height above ground may have been 8 feet. Distance covered was 120 feet with landing in feeding station which is pretty good considering landing point is beteen 1 and 2 feet higher than launch point. Still no gliding when speed easily adequate. Based on fact they do not appear in anyway exhuasted, I think they could easily double or triple distance covered without encurring oxygen debt. Dave walked cause he is a lard-ass and could not go half distance without taking on oxygen debt.

The wrr-cackle is how they synchronize I think. Dave made sound as well but after all that talk, he still decided to walk.

Why do they not fly back to roost in same manner at night? If memory serves, going to roost always involved near vertical flights.

By time of next snow, flight will be filmed. Snow needed in part owing to low light levels.

 

[HunterWilson]

With the short days I often cannot gather eggs until I return home at night. I am out there with a small flashlight they always hop off roost and start eating/drinking like they have been starving. Never seen anything unusual except that they always seem so famished (despite having access to food and water in the coop 24/7).

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
May be a breed affect on that observation. My California grays will come down off roost at all hours to feed when I come out with flashlight, even if crop nearly topped off. They always act as if starving. My others, American dominques and American games sit tight on roost when additional light applied. Funcky stuff still occurs on some full moon nights when birds come down from roost at midnight and walk about yard. I do not know what is cause of this. Something else in addition to full moon must be at play as well. Some of these nights you can literaly read news paper by the moonlight.

 

[centrarchid]

Birds roosting in open come down as a function of light intensity and temperature. Sun up early means coming down early which is already known. Decreasing temperature increases time required to come of roost, new to me. Importance of snow?

 

[centrarchid]

Wirr-cackle is consistently made by at least Dave and Eduardo prior to departing roost. Sallie has departed a fraction of a second prior to Eduardo every time both observed to take-off. Actual flight distance very close to 130 feet with a 2 foot increase in elevation from launch to landing point. Still no glides. I will have to wait for another snow followed by cold sunny day do lighting will be bright enough to show wing flapping. Video will be taken approximately from position photograph taken.

Launch point is top of plastic shelf just below porch light.

Landing point usually within four feet of feeder / feed station at border of sweet sumac patch.

Starting on left; launch point , flight path and landing point. Sun is to my back.

Red line repressents approximate flight patch. They consistently take straight line but altitude varies, especially on approach to landing point.

 

[centrarchid]

Today we attempted to film and upload a higher quality video using a new camcorder that might actually show wings flapping. I called Eduardo to hand, the gently tossed him up to record his flight effort. We can see his wings flapping! Video is linked below.

Tomorrow we will attempt video record Sallie and Eduardo taking flight from roost.

 

[centrarchid]

This video is crappy but required to work out bugs. Warm morning complicated by me being too close made filming sloppy art best. Sallie launched first but only flew to exposed gravel roughly 60' up hill. Eduardo took off later and flew higher but stopped to land next to Sallie. Eduardo can not be seen until near end of flight.

Next effort car will be moved and I will set up camera behind feeding station so birds will appear to fly towards me. A colder morning will hopefully delay flights until after sun comes up a bit. Will be getting a mix of freezing rain and snow tonight.

 

[Minniechickmama]

A couple of weeks ago, I opened up the coop for the birds to come out to feed and exercise. The small coops are set on the ground and each has a feeder in it overnight as well as their heated water pan. Mostly the Hamburgs fly out of the coop when opened, but sometime a few other the others as well, usually the girls. Sometimes the Hamburgs will fly up onto the roof of the brooder house which sits unused because it is not finished yet. At the top point is about 15 feet of the ground. This particular day, one of the Hamburgs flew up about 5-feet of the ground, around the brooder house then up to about 25-feet into a big maple tree a good 15-yards from the chicken coops/house. Silly bird didn't stop to eat even, just went up and sat in that tree in the cold and the wind for about half of the day before she came down to eat. Now, does that classify as flighty?

I think they are the funniest ones in the bunch to watch. The old saying birds of a feather stick together? Well, those Hamburgs go everywhere together! and usually by themselves. They are hilarious!