roller pigeons ?

[oldchickenman]

someone is giveing me there flock of roller pigeons i think he also has some other mixed in. he is giveing me the shed he keep them in to it is 8x10 with nestboxes he has door cut out in the evee with a landing board. we are going to move the shed with pigeons in it he olny lives down the road. my ouestion is how long should i keep them coped up in the shed befor i let them fly free he lets them fly free and he says they come back unless a hawk gets after them.

 

[yardbird tx]

Ha, good question. I don't fly birds. But I have a book I can drag out and see if I can find you a answer. Im sure someone will beat me to it.

 

[Taylorbird]

For Rollers I would give them maybe....like 3-4 weeks. Don't rush them, make sure they are comfertable at their new home and settled in good before letting them out. Make sure not to scare them oout of the coop, let them take their time and explore and fly around the yard and stuff at their own pace.

Hope this helps,

Tbird

 

[deerman]

Will they be able to see his place from the air?? I would add a small flight pen so they can get to see the outside area.

Roller are a lot easier to break to new area, than homers you could also break the young birds they raise first, then let the older birds join the flock.

 

[oldchickenman]

no they wont be able to see his place. i am going to move the shed they live in with birds still in it on car trailer.

 

[deerman]

They will be fine to break then, but best if they can see outside for a few weeks. Just break a few at a time. Dont try to break all at the same time.

 

[Okla-doodle-doo]

Toatlly agree with the ideal that a fly pen is needed. Even if its just a small wire cage attached to the opening under the eves,they need to see their surroundings and learn its their new home. Also keep them up a minnium of the 3-4 weeks,let them get back to nesting good. Proably you will still have a few return to his place ,once they are in the air they will be able to see it.Try and figure the hawk migration in your area out and you will know what times of year you can safely fly.
Also try and cull out the non-rollers,if they are a pure breed and you like them,pen them away from the rollers as they will cross. Otherwise they will dilute the roller blood and you will loose some of the rolling trait. Also if you keep them pure it will be easier to sell off your excess extras in the future. Good luck and enjoy. I have had rollers almost 40 years!