Does anyone not fly their birds Jan and Feb

[Norm2475]

Does anyone fly their birds now or do you keep yours lockedup during the cold months?

[johnnyksspeedshop]

Most people here lock theirs up during the winter months. Alot of hawks up here actually migrate south, so there are less hawks, but they dont fly because of the cold. When its this cold make sure you feed well so they have some body fat.

[orock]

I don't, the hawks won't leave them alone.

[Norm2475]

yeah that is what i have been told. some afternoons i have been letting mine out right at the house. They are hanging out a little. I am also cutting back on the breeding right now. Want my birds to get a rest and keep their strength.

[Norm2475]

Im going to keep mine in for the rest of the cold months. The weather is just getting ready to get cold here.

[pigeon is fun]

Everyday. Am pm. Thanks to socal weather.

[Norm2475]

yeah when i fly mine i do try to fly them late in the evening so hopefully the hawks have already ate. I am not going to train my birds and take them off anywhere to fly until after the weather breaks.

[Larry Holman]

I fly homers and FORS late mornings and again in the afternoon. The BOP seem to be here in the mornings but leave about 9 and come back just after noon. So far have only lost 3 birds, not like last year when it seemed if I opened a door a BOP would fly in and I do mean fly in. Relocated two of them in one week. If there is any action I do lock down for a day or week or more. If you lock down to much you put your birds at a disadvantage, they get out of shape. Only the lazy homers have been lost this year.

[spirit wings]

I let mine out on nice days in the afternoon, I try not to be too predictable either so the hawk won't wait for them. I pick the afternoon in hopes the hawks have had a meal already, but allot times that is wishful thinking.. doing this they do get out but not picked off one by one. just to add, my birds are seasoned flyers who are pretty savvy to hawks.. not youngs just out learning. If I have youngs I wait till spring when things settled down.

[akbird]

Too many BOP and weather crappy. Getting mixed rain and snow right now.

[Alamo]

The last 3 times I let my birds out in the avairy,a hawk hit the screen....He must be starving...And I hope he croaks waiting for my birds to be let out...Alamo

[GEMcC5150]

We fly every day but it in the high 70* to mid 80* and BOP are currently not around. Or so I'm praying.

[Gnuretiree]

Here in Connecticut, I stop flying in late November and don't let them out again until late March.

[SmithFamilyLoft]

Originally Posted by Norm2475

Does anyone fly their birds now or do you keep yours lockedup during the cold months?

I am sure that some do. In my neck of the woods, it is full blown "hawk season", if one chosses to fly around here they simply end up feeding the hawks for the winter. They are very hungrey at this time of year, and become very agressive, having no fear of humans at all. They will attack a bird almost out of your hands, or certainly right next to you on a landing board or out of a crate. Since I am a YB specialist, I have no breeders which I can afford to feed to BOP. My early YB's which will be out there at the end of January will be the hardest hit as will those weaning in Feburary.

When the robins return, the pressure seems to let up some, and then for a few months they almost dissappear. But, for now, hawks are near starvation and will be at the loft, just as sure as my name is Warren Smith !

[checkered]

^ So in the summer time it's certain that hawks will dwindle in numbers in a loft? What's the right explanation for that?

Do they migrate to some place to breed? Do they have lots of foods everywhere? I always read people lock up their pigeons in the winter, and I did the same so essentially joining the march. But the reason I got is quite not robust.