Ranging

[zoo keeper]

OK today is I think about my bird 6th or 7th flight. Today was morning interesting. I actually had to sit on the roof and watch the ladies and gentlemen fly. There flying as been crazy in all directions. Today was rather interesting. It was a short flight for them, but very much more organized. First off I have 20 ladies and gentlemen homers. I would say about 15 of them flew with some organization today, meaning they were circling the area. Then of course the other five or so looked like they were flying against traffic. Goof ball birds, I was just waiting for a head on mid air crash. I have to hate to call medevac for a head on collision of birds. OK back to the serious stuff. Then they all came back to the roof and tried to perch on the wind turban thingies on the roof. That was rather comical to see them trying to face the same direction on something that was slowly turning. So how long before they all start flying together the same direction then start ranging out?

[Lee]

Lee here,
Sounds like you are getting close here, Maybe ya can keep them in the air by flagging them a little each day meaning when they land just take a broom or a pole and wave it so that they can see it and they will take off again normaly it is a flock thing for them to fly together when startled it like if a hawk were to hit them they would all fly off at the same time.. If you have old birds out with young birds then they may never range Old birds have a tendicy to sit on the ground or just perch somewhere and the young birds will tend to do the same thing therefore the flagging try to keep them up in the air as much as possible

[Jerry]

It sounds like your birds are trying to get organized! It does take a while, but they will gradually evolve into one organized group. The younger ones do fly willy nilly and look as if they are going to crash into something or someone else. But once they get their act together and fly in one uniform group it is awsome. It is amazing to watch them fly as if with one brain guiding them.

[zoo keeper]

It was so amazing yesterday I actually sat up on the roof so I could have a birds eye view of them. I am in total amazement with these birds. I wish I would have done this hobby years ago. What is so funny is they obsess me. I have 3 that are always late to return. Those 3 sit on the roof top all day and come in for the night feeding. They couldn't care less that they missed breakfast, but it just drives me crazy, I must go out there 20 times a day to check on them and try to get them to come in, but they just give me the wing (of course I give them back my version of the wing) and they just sit on the roof and look at me.

Any suggestions on how to get those last 3 to come in with all the other ladies and gentlemen?

[ZigZagMarquis]

Originally Posted by zoo keeper

Any suggestions on how to get those last 3 to come in with all the other ladies and gentlemen?

Take this with a HUGE grain of salt as I am more of a novice here then you, but I thought I read here once for birds that won't trap... to basically keep them prisoner for 2 days, no food, only water available, let them out to fly, still no food before, let them fly and then call them in for food. Sounds a bit cruel and I don't mean it that way, so, I'll be interested in what the Experts (Old Birds) here have to say the real answer should be.

[pigeon george]

yes soon they all will fly together the flag method works well i use it to keep them flying a bit longer when i see them try to come in this gives them more time to get organized. as far as trapping it is true to keep them hungry, plus every time i feed i have a certain whislte i do for as the young go out they already know that sound means food, not feedinf them for two days may work well but if they dont need such harsch training i had a problem with a few so i cut the food down to half so at least they all had a little food in there gut as for that head on thing i actually had a young one fly wrong way into my flock of 63 just the other day the sound of wings hitting was herendous but all seemed well its great to watch them fly but this time of year the hawks may get bad and that plain sucks

[re lee]

Not knowing the birds ages. But would say the will begin to flock In say 3 weeks of flying . Then they will flock around the area. And later range/ route out on short distances. and later longewr trips. The young that stay out. Yes as suggested. Hold them in at least a day. Then let them out hungry. Force them up. with the other birds. And try to call the birds in aftere they have flown for a while. If they still refuse. Feed them lightly after they trap. And hold them in without feed for 2 days. the evening of the second try them agin. And yes hawks are starting to move in My area now. I saw a female cooper about 10 this morning land in a tree near my loft. And a male cooper about 630 this evening fly trew the trees. They will take birds sitting the loft rather easy. If they shoqw in your area. You may need to hold the birds in. And change flying times. So they do not find a good hunting feeding time. The cooper hawk will not care if you are standing near by .It will still try to get a bird.