Training Chickens to Demonstrate Flight

[azygous]

The science experiment continues.
FYI - decibel level of rooster's crow is 90 plus, not a pleasant experience when getting it right in the ear.

 

[centrarchid]

Ace coming along nicely. I can go sit in plain sight within barn where he ignores me. After five minutes I can day "Ace" and he comes running to fly up onto my hand for eats. After serving consumed he hops down to rejoin siblings. His mother is starting to cycle out of broodiness and approaches me alone. She still leads brood for aggressive foraging.

 

[centrarchid]

Edgar is a blinker. He can see very little through his left eye. I noticed something was up when he would fly only 50 feet or so and always turn to left with his head cocked to left as he abruptly landed. He can at least see shadows but his depth perception must be degraded. He seems to process his entire world through the right eye but can store only so much information before he has to look around again. The visual does not seem to an issue up close. Either his nearfield vision is not impaired or his ability to compensate is more complete.


Looks like Stanley and Simba will be pulled into duty. Edgar will still work for the short flights an his kids will be good for long flights in late fall.

 

[centrarchid]

Complicating things a bit by introducing Edgar to Ace. Edgar is being pulled off hen in coop so needs a distraction to keep him away from cockyard. Edgar came to call while Ace set back. Then I called Ace and Edgar sat back. Things working well. Need to get couple pullets in the mix.

 

[aart]

So they know their names?
Pullets in mix as training distraction... or to train them to fly to you too?

 

[centrarchid]

They would fly to me too, or at least the camera. Ideally a clip of a flock going across field will be realized. Time of year for young birds to be used is outside peek breeding season so distraction will be reduced. The breeding season is more relevant with games than other breeds.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

The rooster in the photo has a slipped bill. That likely happened because he fought another rooster through the wire on his coop or pen. Other than his bill he is a fine looking piece of chicken flesh.

 

[centrarchid]

I do not know what to say.

 

[centrarchid]

Edgar went all the way to barn, a distance of 330 yards and beyond his home range, when dogs dispatched a raccoon and chickens, including one in his harem was riled up. He was running into situation ready to do battle. He has also figured out how to get into a pen that normally only broody hens use. He is smart as a whip. Looking at him you would not think so based on his ugly mug.

 

[azygous]

I'm proud of Ace. I feel a certain connection.

Sounds as if things are going rather splendidly.