YBS Not Flying........Lazy ???

my young birds just don't want to fly, I think they are just been lazy.....or maybe ive been too soft with them ...? they do fly round in small numbers, but then land and mess about, they don't seem to want to go up in one bunch...........

I have noticed a few pairing up, I dare say this wont help..........

should I force them up to fly ?

any thoughts ?

I don’t know how many you’ve got David but I’ve found if you only have a few they don’t fly very well, the more you have the better they fly in my experience.

yes ive found that too steve, ive got 17 so they should be flying better than they are I would think.........

Having completely open loft never had the trouble, there was rarely a time when one batch was not flying a mixture of young and old at times.

If I had the problem I would keep them in for a couple of days and feed a bit more small seed and see how they did then.

I would have thought that any fit young bird would be up and away when let out after being fastened up for a long period.

If you have different aged young ones may be a problem.


Regards.

32 C last few days. Thunderstorms etc,. Hotter the day higher they go. But still, must admit they have backed off time on the wing continuously.

We have 101 ybs which 94 are flying out , anyway the lazy ones will only do 25 to 30 minutes forced and we have some like today doing 65 unforced .but my ybs are all different ages which doesn't help at all , we will keep at it till all are doing 60 plus minutes and those that don't will soon be gone as we have enough to play with

David wrote:

my young birds just don't want to fly, I think they are just been lazy.....or maybe ive been too soft with them ...? they do fly round in small numbers, but then land and mess about, they don't seem to want to go up in one bunch...........

I have noticed a few pairing up, I dare say this wont help..........

should I force them up to fly ?

any thoughts ?

You're too soft ,  bet they're spoilt rotten   hanging about for treats. Joking aside  maybe they need a bit encouragement David, without scaring the hell out of them. Nothing as drastic as a corn bag or flag, maybe just a tennis ball up and down, build them up to 20 mins and they should get going longer themselves.

had the same bother david as I have different age ybs so I forced mine up a few times some are up for near 2 hours now the younger ones about an hour and 2 had to go they were just playing silly buggers so now the messers are gone and a little gentle persuasion they are up and running

I’ve got a block of flats about 20 yards from my back gate so if I scare them off my house roof they fly onto the flats.

That's no good lol

Boosey wrote:

I’ve got a block of flats about 20 yards from my back gate so if I scare them off my house roof they fly onto the flats.

I feel your frustration Boosey My block of flats are 100 foot plus gum trees over my loft etc. End of the day we have to make the best of what we have been dealt unfortunately I suggest. No reflection by me, but on  average if all blocks are in place with ones birds, one still should be able to get them flying for a reasonable amount of time .

peel bros wrote:

That's no good lol

spotted the bit of sympathy at the end their Ray "Magic" about what I would expect from a Geordie .
*****

Boosey wrote:

I’ve got a block of flats about 20 yards from my back gate so if I scare them off my house roof they fly onto the flats.

they will all pitch somewhere else if you keep sending the birds up ….trick is to do it just once or twice to get them going they readily fly for themselves now

well, truth of the matter is, I have a big weeping willow tree approx. 15ft away from my loft......the ybs fly straight out and sit on the tree, they then come and go to the tree ......... , flying round in small groups, then land again in the tree, then they come down to the loft and peck around on the grass, then back up to the tree until I call them in after being out an hour or so....

so the tree is a big problem at the moment........

I once had a loft on Olivers Mount, an old wartime brick reinforced out looking post that overlooked the sea.

The young and old birds were always kept together, they were always fed out and not sent out hungry, they often flew for over eight hours over the sea just enjoying themselves, a hungry young bird will have one thing on it's mind and it will not be how long it is in the air.

Food for thought.


Regards.

david I would keep them in until Monday and no feed the day before ,you have to get the control back the only way is through their bellys well ybs anyway....once coming in immediately after calling I think I would then start to train them but only from 1 mile initially in the hope they come out the baskets and do a bit of flying locally not for getting them to home 1 mile would be useless but it may get them flying atb

I would also only feed young birds once a day to keep them in check, I’ve tried this year for the first time to feed a very light feed in the morning, they look and feel very good on it but they started to mess me about, so back to one feed.

David wrote:

well, truth of the matter is, I have a big weeping willow tree approx. 15ft away from my loft......the ybs fly straight out and sit on the tree, they then come and go to the tree .........  , flying round in small groups, then land again in the tree, then they come down to the loft and peck around on the grass, then back up to the tree until I call them in after being out an hour or so....

so the tree is a big problem at the moment........

David I know I'm going to have a bit off abuse for this comment, but If I was you I would scare them out the tree regardless off loses every time they went in the tree I would scare them out off it that would stop them

Don Webb wrote:

David wrote:

well, truth of the matter is, I have a big weeping willow tree approx. 15ft away from my loft......the ybs fly straight out and sit on the tree, they then come and go to the tree .........  , flying round in small groups, then land again in the tree, then they come down to the loft and peck around on the grass, then back up to the tree until I call them in after being out an hour or so....

so the tree is a big problem at the moment........

David I know I'm going to have a bit off abuse for this comment, but If I was you I would scare them out the tree regardless off loses every time they went in the tree I would scare them out off it that would stop them

Happy to bet my house Don no matter how one may try etc the tree will be the winner in the end as such for Mr average.

Mine again over two hours since the weather cooled off. One with foot dangling. It was out overnight. Many looking to mate up.
Sat and Sunday rain forecast both days. Have to race the old birds. Regardless. But will not know until tomorrow afternoon.