Fly pigeon like a hawk - most enjoyable hobby

[Victor]

Originally Posted by theBrewMeister

You had enough time to respond to me and others with links to more videos and vague comments. Everytime we asked you for some guidance -no more than to point us in the right direction - all we got were messages back about how you've put up more videos. I've asked you several times to give advice, not only here but on youtube as well. If you dont care to teach people just say that it's proprietary and you dont want to distribute the info. I know my post sounded harsh and I apoligize for that but question dodging responses tend to make most people a little irritated.

most?????

"sounded harsh" is putting it gently.

[Petrollers]

Lovebird,

I have lots of tame birds but they are this years hatched. I used to have rollers but they were all sold during the winter. Here is a clip of my young 08 rollers I flew last summer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGvxfUwyIxg

I made a mistake selling those three bird rollers and some of my tame homers. I didn't really give them a chance to perform. Those birds were too young and Crow is the only one I kept for myself.

Currently, I have Red Ganzel, white Buddapist, Portuguese Tumblers, Arch Angels, Pheasant Pigeon, Figuritas, Homers, and still looking for some young rollers. It has been a little difficult to purchase young ones this year.
Here are some videos of my birds that I am training.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BomGtoM1xVk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoiY7tiEqiQ

I have breeders that aren't tame and I fly them together at times at home. They'll usually fly together but the tame ones will come down when I whistle. All my birds are all kept in a big coop.

[theBrewMeister]

Originally Posted by Victor

most?????

"sounded harsh" is putting it gently.

Ok, are we trying to drag this out? Because as I recall I apoligized as you can see. So, I'm going to go ahead and drop it now, care to join?

As for Petrollers, your birds are amazing to watch. Forgive my rash behavior but as I previously mentioned, I had asked you on youtube and here for some advice and it seemed as if you were dodging the questions. I understand that youre a busy person, I respect that, it just seemed as if you were ignoring everyone. Thank you now for taking time to give everyone your input. Again, I apoligize. Keep up the good work.

[Columba livia!]

WOW petrollers your birds rock!! I hope someday I can train my bird's babies to do that!
You are a great trainer! I loved the videos! Keep it up!!-Columba livia!

[della]

Originally Posted by Columba livia!

WOW petrollers your birds rock!! I hope someday I can train my bird's babies to do that!
You are a great trainer! I loved the videos! Keep it up!!-Columba livia!

Yea, what Columba livia said! Congratulations on developing such fine skill, and thanks for sharing the videos! Maybe one day....

[Petrollers]

BrewMeister,

I have tons of private emails and comments on youtube. I am not really sure what your screen name is and when you asked me questions. Anyway, I am not trying to dodge your questions. I understand you are anxious to get started but I do want you to know that it will take some time and if you plan to train 3 birds, it will be different from training one bird. Especially homers. Keep in mind that when you train more than one bird, eventually, your birds will bond more to each other than to you.

Columbia Livia and Della,

If you two start with baby pigeons and sometimes, it can be frustrating at first but give your young bird time to learn and bond to you and the result will be amazing. This type of flying is different from the traditional way of flying and but it is worth the time. According to the president of nation pigeon association, I might be the only guy that flies fancy birds.

[Missouri_pigeon]

I have birds that do this. Training does require a lot more patience than most anything else in pigeons. My birds LOVE peanuts (like most), so i teach them just after weaning age that a click means peanut. (Buy a dog clicker training device from petstore) I then gently start tossibng them from a foot or two away from me and they normally land on my shoulder. When they do, I click and they get a peanut. I do this two or three times a day, along with spending time with each bird, petting and holding them. I use a clicker because it is a different sound unlike anything else I heard.

It is best to do this only with younger birds around weaned age. I have accomplished it with older birds but its a LOT harder than with the younger birds. The main goal is to break the fear they have of you and to show them your not going to hurt them.


I am pretty petrollers uses a similar method. But I dont know.

He has great pigeons though.

[spirit wings]

I was wondering do you have to isolate the young bird while training or do you keep him in with other birds?

[Missouri_pigeon]

I dont know what PetRollers does but I dont isolate them. But I do play with them more in the loft than my other birds. I carry them around, while feeding etc etc. Get them use to me. Since it is mainly just training them to come to a sound. My rollers use to do the same thing, besides I trained them to trap when I whistled. Same concept. Different landing perch

[Petrollers]

Spirit Wing,

I keep all my breeders in a bigger coop and I have never let those out before. I keep my tame ones along with a couple of rollers and homers that are not tame. Those I fly daily at home. So, no I do not really isolate them. The reason I have them separate is only because my breeder coop is at a different place and I only have room for a 4x4 at my place.

I have never really flown birds using a portable loft but I am sure with time and training it would be amazing as well.

[Missouri_pigeon]

Cool. I use to fly birds out of a portable loft but I liked it better (and simplier) if they just landed on me instead. So I no longer use a portable loft.

I was just saying the method used to call the birds back is the same basic principle as trap training rollers.

I enjoyed the videos PetRollers

[Petrollers]

I am glad you enjoyed watching my videos. Hopefully I was able to give us some insights to a different way of flying pigeons. I have always wanted to own a hawk as a kid because of the way falconers fly their raptor. I soon realized the trouble I would have to go through and decided to fly pigeons instead. I Honestly think pigeons are great pets! Affordable and easy to raise and breed. There are so many breeds of pigeons out there and that is what I like most about it.

I may have forgotten to mention ,but I have two pairs of Greek Doneks; the red pair is on eggs and the black pair just hatched out two babies . I am hoping to fly Doneks this year.

[theBrewMeister]

Petrollers, do you teach the birds to eat from your hand? I had the idea to feed the birds I want to fly only from hand; that way I become the "mobile loft" and they would then come to me for food instead of the loft. I already have a bird I've chosen for this based on his young age (still doesnt have all his feathers under his wings and around his beak) and he doesnt mind me picking him up. Plus after two days of handling him he will sit on my arm and eat seeds from my palm. Am I on the right track here?

[Petrollers]

TheBrewMeister,

If your bird is unable to eat on its own, then you will have to hand feed it. If you want to feed them from your hand only, you can if you have time. However, If you hand raise your birds, they should remain tame and will just come to you when you signal them.

[Petrollers]

Using food is a very easy way to get a pigeon to your arm. If you plan on flying him outside without a portable loft. One thing you'll realize is that when your bird gets older, she won't allow you to grab her as much or even at all. It is important to keep that bond strong otherwise, you'll be outside chasing after you bird for a long while even if she is just next to your feet.