Archive for June, 2010

Train those pigeons

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

If you have raised some birds this spring it is time to begin training them. When the birds are 30 days old they will begin to start flying around the inside of the loft. I like to leave the loft open while I am around to keep an eye on things and let the new birds venture in and out of the loft on their own. For the next 40 -60 days continue to let the birds out to exercise and fly on a daily basis. You will notice that they will stay up in the air and venture farther each and every day. It is now time to take them doen the road. I like to start with a 4-6 mile toss.
Early in the morning take the birds to a location clear of aerial obstructions such as high line wires, microwave towers etc. When you arrive take a few minute to let the birds settle in and get their bearings. I like to have a cup of coffee and when it is finished the birds are ready to go.



Drop the door on your crate and the birds will usually circle a time or two and head in the direction of home.

These birds were home in the loft when I arrived home. These birds are from well bred stock and can be trained to home out to several hundred miles.

I will take these birds back here a time or two. This was a north toss. I will then toss them east, west, and south a couple of times at this same distance. Staye tuned for more training.

Montezuma Quail-Davis Mountains State Park-Ft. Davis, TX

Friday, June 11th, 2010

Saw these birds on vacation and could not help myself from sharing.  These birds inhabit the trans pecos portion of far West Texas and are found mostly in the picturesque high elevations.  They would rather crouch and hide than run or flush when threatened.  When we saw them in the road they would crouch down in the middle of the road rather than run or fly away.  Ilike to describe the rooster plumage as a guinea fowl turned rodeo clown!