training chickens for voluntary flight

[centrarchid]

Calling by name now works even from at least 100 feet. I can call "Eduardo" repeatedly and he will peel away from his flock despite not being able to see me. He makes course corrections every time I speak. Sadly, approach on ground only. Too many grasshoppers that might be passed up otherwise I guess.

 

[tuesdays chicks]

You need too do it over longer grass

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
I think you are right. Still may have waite until killing frost takes out bulk of insects in pasture. The feed I am offering should then become a stronger attractent.

 

[tuesdays chicks]

I haven't seen my girls fly since they started laying

 

[welsummerchicks]

I would bet if most breeds are kept where they get a lot of free exercise and getting up on higher roosts, they would do pretty well til they get older and heavier.

Mine run around all the time and fly whenever they think they need to get somewhere fast. At 3 months they're all pretty light in their loafers.

 

[7L Farm]

Pretty neat that y'all have trained your chickens to come upon name calling.I can't attempt this because they all look the same. The funny thing is that I call them baby's. I have a golf cart that I ride around in at the farm. When I drive off and yell come on baby's the flock of 10 come running behind me . I bet their will be a day when the chickens will get smart & start riding with me instead of running behind me.

 

[centrarchid]

Weight and fleight: My roosters will top out 5.5 to 6 lbs and hens 4 to 5 lbs which is small enough for good flight. Also feathering of games is more functional for flight. Game hens not fly as much while laying but will do so for roosting and avoidance of predators. A consideration I will address is whether birds are of flying trim. I will be managing weight by occasional weighing and rationing of diet.



Training has proved quite easy with the game chickens. Insects were the enticement. Gallo del Cielo provided hints on how to do correctly.



For both issues above, breed (genetic factors) greatly affect weight and trainability. The games have been maintained in a near feral state for many generations where smarts for finding food has been maintained. My hatchery derived stocks have proven resistant to training although they will stand for ever waiting for free hanndouts. Games, if food not forth coming either get in your face or go foraging, sometimes some distance from area I apply feeds.

 

[centrarchid]

We are still growing and proving reliable in coming to calls regardless of location. Both birds will readily run through a crowd of moving people to get to me when I call. Eduardo now weighs 919 g (2 lb 3 oz) and Sally weighs 794 g (1 lb 14 oz). Both are rock solid and strong. This first time I have attempted to condition such young chickens, or free ranging for that matter, and it appears to work better than any effort I have had with birds confined to fly pens. Notice both birds extremely relaxed whe handled. Soon I will be taking them to football stadium and coaxing them to fly down bleachers to me in middle of feild. That should get them to work on glide scope without undo stress on incoming feathers. Should also get them pass any fear of hights issue.

Eduardo

Sally

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Wow, bravo! That's some great progress. And I thought it was great that my birds would come to their name. Nice looking birds too.

 

[tuesdays chicks]

my bantams have been flying 40 feet give or take a foot. flying over the top of the 30 ft pool