Finally they dropped down and most of them went straight in, a couple messed about and there wasn't much feed left when they finally dropped in.
I am not too worried about them when they are little, but once they learn to land in trees, it's a hard habit to break.
So, starting tomorrow morning, we go into control mode!
Life in St Arnaud
Yes, as soon as these youngsters are flying well I'm going to start letting out the old birds that are homed in with them. When there's a reasonable group I will carefully release the others as well.
Greetings from the land down under. 
Blessed is he who expecteth nothing, for verily, he shall not be disappointed.
Blessed is he who expecteth nothing, for verily, he shall not be disappointed.
That will hopefully help you break them in then
Sadies Lofts home of decent birds just a useless loft manager, and now a confirmed loser but proud
Day two. The small ones had a light breakfast then the feed was taken away.
At 3 I let them out again. The little buggers flew straight up into the tree and started jumping from one branch to the other! Then they started racing around from one tree to another and having a ball. After half an hour of that a couple of them zoomed down onto the board and the others followed. I put the feed trays in the sputnik and let the old birds in. I started calling and 6 out of 7 were in within a minute.
On the first day of training! Very pleased.
The smallest one didn't go in. It went back up and was waiting for the others to come back and play. By the time it came down I'd taken the feed away. It messed about and ended up on the ground by the loft. I made a huge mistake. I opened the door and let it in. I've just created a problem but there you go
It had a drink then looked for the food. I grabbed a pot of feed out of a nest box and put it on the shelf. I let the youngster have a small feed then took it away.
I think that putting a baby to bed with no feed teaches them nothing. That one will be hungry in the morning because it got little. Tomorrow it will do better. But it did get the message that when it came in it got something to eat. it's all about imprinting these little ones.
At 3 I let them out again. The little buggers flew straight up into the tree and started jumping from one branch to the other! Then they started racing around from one tree to another and having a ball. After half an hour of that a couple of them zoomed down onto the board and the others followed. I put the feed trays in the sputnik and let the old birds in. I started calling and 6 out of 7 were in within a minute.
On the first day of training! Very pleased.
The smallest one didn't go in. It went back up and was waiting for the others to come back and play. By the time it came down I'd taken the feed away. It messed about and ended up on the ground by the loft. I made a huge mistake. I opened the door and let it in. I've just created a problem but there you go
It had a drink then looked for the food. I grabbed a pot of feed out of a nest box and put it on the shelf. I let the youngster have a small feed then took it away.
I think that putting a baby to bed with no feed teaches them nothing. That one will be hungry in the morning because it got little. Tomorrow it will do better. But it did get the message that when it came in it got something to eat. it's all about imprinting these little ones.
Greetings from the land down under.
Blessed is he who expecteth nothing, for verily, he shall not be disappointed.
Blessed is he who expecteth nothing, for verily, he shall not be disappointed.
Good to see going well MurrayMurray wrote: ↑Wed Jan 08, 2025 6:52 am Day two. The small ones had a light breakfast then the feed was taken away.
At 3 I let them out again. The little buggers flew straight up into the tree and started jumping from one branch to the other! Then they started racing around from one tree to another and having a ball. After half an hour of that a couple of them zoomed down onto the board and the others followed. I put the feed trays in the sputnik and let the old birds in. I started calling and 6 out of 7 were in within a minute.
On the first day of training! Very pleased.
The smallest one didn't go in. It went back up and was waiting for the others to come back and play. By the time it came down I'd taken the feed away. It messed about and ended up on the ground by the loft. I made a huge mistake. I opened the door and let it in. I've just created a problem but there you go
It had a drink then looked for the food. I grabbed a pot of feed out of a nest box and put it on the shelf. I let the youngster have a small feed then took it away.
I think that putting a baby to bed with no feed teaches them nothing. That one will be hungry in the morning because it got little. Tomorrow it will do better. But it did get the message that when it came in it got something to eat. it's all about imprinting these little ones.
Sadies Lofts home of decent birds just a useless loft manager, and now a confirmed loser but proud