Weaning, what age ?

what age do members wean their ybs, i usually wean around 28 - 30 days, but this all depends on how i think they have progressed, but at this age they are well covered under the wing and can eat and drink well...........


sometimes the only problem i have is at 30 days old they are too strong on the wing.........

similar to you david,i check to see if they are ok,but not too late

Ours get weaned from 21 days onward. Some you will find are more advanced than others. But they soon pick it up from the others. I just think it's important to keep an eye on them and make sure they know what and where the drinker is.
My own birds, I start to feed them quarter of peanuts from my hand.
As this is part of my youngbird training, which helps us develop a bond.

ive heard sometake the ybs and hens away togeather when the ybs are 14 days old.............the ybs are then pumped full of food by all the hens feeding any of the ybs regardles of weather they are their own........

a lot do,nt get that bond with their ybs,i think it is very important and we have a fantastic bond with ours,just watch my video some they its starving them but i know they are jealous of my birds lol....

My mate Kev, has a cage made from 2x2 inch mesh, which all of his youngbirds get bedded down on fresh straw in the stock loft and the hens can still feed them through the mesh if they wish. This is for the first five or six days before they are removed into their section.

yes i agree ray, the bond with the ybs is important...........also very impressed by how your birds trap.

That's good training and a good bond. Mine trap with one grain of corn.
Every credit Ray. You have it sussed.

like anything teach it young and fair you wont go far wrong i wean mine around 30 days but play with them in the boxes then hand feed all the time from then on
this is a good way to bond any that piss you about when called in dont feed um and only let them out after the others have had there excercise and play repeat offenders dont get a third chance here but others will disergree

Spot on G.
Many will disagree, but this is the way.
You have to be disciplined and so do your birds.
Any that don't trap for me go without, till the next feed. They never need a second chance.

Gaz b wrote:

My mate Kev, has a cage made from 2x2 inch mesh, which all of his youngbirds get bedded down on fresh straw in the stock loft and the hens can still feed them through the mesh if they wish. This is for the first five or six days before they are removed into their section.

excellent idea that

graham, why do you think we get repeat offenders which will not respond like the others, is it because they are less intelligent of they are lacking in some way.....? or just that they have got into the wrong routine.....?

to be honest david ive not got a clue why some do it but i do know that they soon pass the habbit on to others ie go on the house roof etc yes in general i think some are just dopey and remain that way best off without them

usualy wean at 25 to 28 days

many years ago an old friend of my fathers had a fly away he was left with 2 y/bs this man was one of the best fanciers i ever new his name was tommy bransby any way the 2 y/bs used to go out each day ranged for hrs used to come back by them selves the blue pd was very tame but the dk in was crazy he named the y/bs dandy long legs the pd the darkin the witch doctor when they cam home from training they trapped like bullts but if you wherent quick the dkin would be out and away only 2 y/bs but they swept all before them and went on to win many races i asked old tommy why he put up with the dark in he said sean trat them as individuals thats a trait in my family i always get one like him now and a gain and they terric breeders and racers
sean

two very good points raised there graham and sean, i agree graham thay offenders can and do encourage others into bad ways, and also i get seans point about individuals and that they can become very good birds even tho they are head strong and dont always abide by the rules...........


good comments.

ive seen many widowhood cocks roof hopping but thats differant they are on form or comming into form they only stay there a split second but as for young birds i wont let it get to that stage what the eye dont see the heart wont cry over come saturdays

birdy2011 wrote:

like anything teach it young and fair you wont go far wrong i wean mine around 30 days but play with them in the boxes then hand feed all the time from then on
this is a good way to bond any that piss you about when called in dont feed um and only let them out after the others have had there excercise and play repeat offenders dont get a third chance here but others will disergree

Spot on Graham you need the bond but also you need to show them who is still the boss

With regards the weaning age between 21 and 26 days max for me, as we all know pigeons are like sheep once one does something the others will follow and its the same with youngsters as they all develop differently