Young birds 2025

[NeilA]

I can tell it’s a bloody minefield I’ve walked into and the only way forward is considered step by considered step. I really appreciate the insights, thank you.

I think if you don’t want to blind treat pre season Pete just go with regular tests

I just prefer to blind treat for the regular 4 things I do 2 in February 2 in March so then I can just keep on top of respo and have a monthly test , that’s just my way and not by any means correct

It would probably work out cheaper to have the tests done than constantly treat
and If you had a serious problem then there are other tests available at a higher
cost
Then you only need to worry about respo and the rest treat on advice
When you think 6 kits are £72 you’re only looking at £1.50 a week to have 6 kits
All I would say if you are 10 /15 min off the pace it could well be something a test would pick up and you could sort in a week rather than thinking it’s the pigeons or feeding or drag etc
Could be all them things but the test will give you a definite answer on one of the issues

[PeteDerby]

I can tell it’s a bloody minefield I’ve walked into and the only way forward is considered step by considered step. I really appreciate the insights, thank you.

I think if you don’t want to blind treat pre season Pete just go with regular tests

I just prefer to blind treat for the regular 4 things I do 2 in February 2 in March so then I can just keep on top of respo and have a monthly test , that’s just my way and not by any means correct

It would probably work out cheaper to have the tests done than constantly treat
and If you had a serious problem then there are other tests available at a higher
cost
Then you only need to worry about respo and the rest treat on advice
When you think 6 kits are £72 you’re only looking at £1.50 a week to have 6 kits
All I would say if you are 10 /15 min off the pace it could well be something a test would pick up and you could sort in a week rather than thinking it’s the pigeons or feeding or drag etc
Could be all them things but the test will give you a definite answer on one of the issues

Interesting Neil and something I’ll hopefully be in a position to delve into this time next year. At this stage all my focus is on getting the YBs settled and vaccinated. Next it’ll letting them out for the first few times and getting them to trap etc. Even educating and training seem a mile off at this stage even though it’s a matter of weeks away.

Bear in mind it’s over 50 years since I first had the experience of letting YBs out for the first time and I can STILL remember the anxiety. And that’s before birds of prey were ever the issue they are now!

[NeilA]

I can tell it’s a bloody minefield I’ve walked into and the only way forward is considered step by considered step. I really appreciate the insights, thank you.

I think if you don’t want to blind treat pre season Pete just go with regular tests

I just prefer to blind treat for the regular 4 things I do 2 in February 2 in March so then I can just keep on top of respo and have a monthly test , that’s just my way and not by any means correct

It would probably work out cheaper to have the tests done than constantly treat
and If you had a serious problem then there are other tests available at a higher
cost
Then you only need to worry about respo and the rest treat on advice
When you think 6 kits are £72 you’re only looking at £1.50 a week to have 6 kits
All I would say if you are 10 /15 min off the pace it could well be something a test would pick up and you could sort in a week rather than thinking it’s the pigeons or feeding or drag etc
Could be all them things but the test will give you a definite answer on one of the issues

Interesting Neil and something I’ll hopefully be in a position to delve into this time next year. At this stage all my focus is on getting the YBs settled and vaccinated. Next it’ll letting them out for the first few times and getting them to trap etc. Even educating and training seem a mile off at this stage even though it’s a matter of weeks away.

Bear in mind it’s over 50 years since I first had the experience of letting YBs out for the first time and I can STILL remember the anxiety. And that’s before birds of prey were ever the issue they are now!

I hope it goes well for you Pete

[worm]

Pete get them out asap don't wait they only want it at that age have their feed down waiting every time they go out and they will go in faster everyday does get tricky if you go in cabin for something and 6 babies follow in your heals

[MIL]

Worm is right Pete, don’t fanny about get them out

The more you delay the stronger they are getting

[PeteDerby]

Worm is right Pete, don’t fanny about get them out

The more you delay the stronger they are getting

Interesting one this. I’m told a lot that the sparrow hawks are very active at the moment but it starts to calm down in 3 or 4 weeks so I should wait?

The main reason they’re not out yet though is that I bought a big settling pen /aviary on wheels that fits over the front of the yb section. The idea being they can come out, flutter about then trap through the Universal traps. I’d feel more confident with getting them back in following being scattered by a hawk attack if they knew how to get in. It’s just arrived and the concrete pad it runs on was put down on Monday so still curing.

I’m probably being over-cautious, but bear in mind I have zero birds that have been out before to show the YB how to get on. It’s just prisoners and babies right now and I’m figuring another week or so whilst they trap-train isn’t going to make much difference?

[NeilA]

Worm is right Pete, don’t fanny about get them out

The more you delay the stronger they are getting

Interesting one this. I’m told a lot that the sparrow hawks are very active at the moment but it starts to calm down in 3 or 4 weeks so I should wait?

The main reason they’re not out yet though is that I bought a big settling pen /aviary on wheels that fits over the front of the yb section. The idea being they can come out, flutter about then trap through the Universal traps. I’d feel more confident with getting them back in following being scattered by a hawk attack if they knew how to get in. It’s just arrived and the concrete pad it runs on was put down on Monday so still curing.

I’m probably being over-cautious, but bear in mind I have zero birds that have been out before to show the YB how to get on. It’s just prisoners and babies right now and I’m figuring another week or so whilst they trap-train isn’t going to make much difference?

When mine have yellow fluff on them I take them outside I put them on my board so they run in the loft
the boards about 21/2 foot square , it doesn’t take long b I do a few then a few more
They run in to be safe from the outside world
Stephen traps through the door so stands his outside and keeps guard then opens the door so they run in both similar ways and both done before they are flying or old enough to fly
Once they trap like that it stays with them

[Judder69]

Chris debakker video is an interesting watch and
makes alot of sense

[MIL]

There's a video of Chris over an hour long and I'll watch that when I get time

But not being funny, if he traps his pigeons like this on a race day I'd have him on toast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4XoI7Cg3Y4

[Murray]

Yep, everyone has their ideas, some work, some don't. `I recently weaned 5 late breds, and they go in the trap like they were born with the program in their heads.
They aren't hungry, they aren't scared, they just do what what they are meant to do.
For some reason, not everyone has that. That was a revelation for me. How can you not make baby pigeons do what you want them to?
It isn't rocket science.