flying at dusk

Pushed for time tonight and wasn't going to put birds out, must have been nearly 5:20pm. Hens back on eggs or standing over first egg and the cocks were stomping about in the trap wanting out.
Nice clear night so opened trap thinking they might do 10 minutes drop back in and pump the youngins for last feed. They had other ideas and went up extra high, dots in the sky and away. Dusk at 6pm and they came back but kept missing the drop in the half light frightened of their own shadows.
Luckily a couple dropped on roof and brought the others down and in. It was just about dark by then about 6:15pm .
Another lesson learned, black dark at 6:30. Keep in now till hens split off sunday/monday

Always happens when you think they will just do ten minutes done it before and had them night out on me now I wait till the clocks change for evening fly

yes mark, i know I was lucky tonight, need them into a routine I think. Easter time off work should make a difference.

markevans wrote:

Always happens when you think they will just do ten minutes done it before and had them night out on me now I wait till the clocks change for evening fly

Stress factor goes up a notch or two I found here when in such a position. End of the day thou standing outside at midnight watching your birds criss crossing the moon light etc is rather an interesting experience somewhat, I found .

always a stress factor with me, when i have ybs out .......need to have eyes everywhere because of cats or hawks

many of us used to train real late - when I bothered to train lol. Given just enough time to home. Some would land after dark of course.

Daz wrote:

many of us used to train real late - when I bothered to train lol. Given just enough time to home. Some would land after dark of course.

Know & have known those that actually fly them in the dark here as general training. Scary way to go about things but it can be very successful etc at times, especially in the distance type of events.

We weren't bad in war years flying the pigeon in the dark. Better for not encountering Percy and co and opposition force etc.
However, the Canadians were dab hands at it.
5.000 in complete darkness, released in paper bags - like ours - to fly 300 miles or so in complete darkness.

You, would love as many shillings for every bird - assorts at that - I've seen flying in the dark. Not including owls of course. Song birds, ducks crows etc. etc.
We do seem to molly coddle nature... most likely as many regard them, their abilities, as same as ours. Big nonsense there!

There is no better examples of a pigeons capabilities than those used in the war.

Night, rain, hail, snow, from aircraft, boats, gales, you name it and some did it.

So their capabilities were there for all to see.

No palatial lofts, just in a basket maybe for days with no two let outs a day etc;

No polished grain, no medication, no palatial lofts.

Today the majority of pigeons are medication dependant and those who have clinical lofts are more dependant on doing so.

I would not believe any fancier who adopts the latest fads and says they do not medicate.

Have heard some say they do not use this that and the other and then slip up later on over a period of time and they use everything other than the kitchen sink. ( I used to use a kitchen sink as a bath for them at one time).

I had completely open loft for many years the pigeons went out when they wanted, know they were out at the crack of dawn but no idea if any ventured out at night.

Said for over 45 years, keep as near to nature as possible avoid clinical conditions, let the immune system develope as nature intended and you will not go far wrong.

never let mine out when on young uns, lots of reasons, each to their own tho

redrog wrote:

never let mine out when on young uns, lots of reasons, each to their own tho

Yes agree with that, everyones circumstances are different and you have to adopt that which suits yours.

Regards.

Had birds out years ago when I was a amateur late at night and they wouldn't come down , as you say frightened to land . Eventually they did but lesson learnt as well . Never again

Youngster used to take to the skies and go up out of site. Land and trap quickly .... feed!
Some on loft early next morning, or all night I guess, before we got up anyway. lol.