training chickens for voluntary flight

[joebryant]

Who knows, you might end up on Tosh.O.

 

[tuesdays chicks]

Quote:
Hi I think the sound might work. I haven't finished reading every thing. But you want voluntary flight a startler voids the voluntary. Just wanted to point that out.

 

[centrarchid]

Thanks for bringing point up. Voluntary performance will be be measured in its own right and considered distinct from escape perfomance. Latter will be measured at later date only after voluntary performance evaluated. Escape performance will be more difficult to replicate and potentially stressfull and will require a much larger volume / area to evaluate.

 

[centrarchid]

Last indoor flight for Eduardo. Intended distance 15 feet, actual distance 19+. He seemed confused by camera I used with baiting yesterday. Flight was not trimmed out so not best possible. He has now been released to free range. Hopefully he will survive.

Video clip not best.

 

[centrarchid]

Oven Ready,

Your observastions of red jungle fowl are of great interest to me. Compared to my American Games, they are likely small and probably better fliers as well.

When you see them make the longer flights, can you determine if juveniles / subadults are mixed in? My American Games, especially the stags go through a stage where they can not fly as well as younger or older birds. Has something to do with molt where second chick feathering (flight feathers) is being replaced by first adult flight feathering. They also just starting to crow. Period of poor flight capability last 45 to 60 days. Molts later in life do not seem to limit flight as much.

Also, are flights motivated by need to reach another feeding location, avoidance of predators or avoidance of other groups of red jungle fowl?

Jim

 

[centrarchid]

One of my chicks (Sally) that is roughly quail size flew almost 100 feet horizontally from a ground level takeoff. Maximum height less than four feet. Flight trimmed out with lots of gliding, just what I am looking for. Motivation was to get to me across patch of mixed fescue that is difficult for her to walk through. Could not get her to repeat. Eduardo not so motivated. Upon close inspection, his crop was chock full of something, grasshoppers and crickets most likely. Dominiques reared in parallel can fly just about 12 feet now and not trimming out.


I was truely surprised. Such performances usually require chicks to be startled.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Wow!

 

[centrarchid]

Image below of Eduardo ♂ and Sally ♀ 2010 September 02. Taken after dark reason for droopy tales. They fall asleep in seconds when on my lap. Weights Eduardo = 296 g, Sally = 262 g. This effort just to see if I can post images made with SONY DCR TRV240. Slow start this one.

 

[centrarchid]

Following images of chicks in training as of 2010 September 11. Both chicks will come running from rest of free ranging flock when I call, whether I have feed or not and will fly up to my hand or shoulder. They seem to have little fear and will preen / groom themselves when sitting on my shoulder. After hanging with me they hop down and return to flock. Both are showing second set of tail feathers (rounded tips / dorsally placed) coming in.


Eduardo (396 g) appears to be a brown red.

Sally (361 g)

 

[centrarchid]

Following images of chicks in training as of 2010 September 18.


Eduardo (476 g) and Sally (443 g). Eduardo is bird with red on neck and body.

Eduardo dumping heat after minimal exercise.