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#Post#: 7597--------------------------------------------------
A hard lessen
DIR By: oldfart
Date: June 10, 2011, 9:31 am
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Before I start this story, I would like to repeat my position on
a couple of points so no one will think I have changed. I lost
the best yearling cock I had raised to that date to a Cooper
hawk two years ago. I would still fly that bird if I were in the
same circumstance today. I think any bird should be flown for at
least two years before trying it in the stock loft. I also do
not think any bird can maintain it’s best form or style deeper
then thirty feet. I am not saying it can not have good form but
just not it’s best.
Yesterday after weeks of clear skies I flew my old bird
team along with a few of the older young birds. Mixed in with
this kit was a three year old stock cock, not the fabled blur
but very good form under the thirty foot mark and not bad past
that point even to sixty feet. I just wanted to see him get it
on, there was no other reason. The Cooper hen came from the
trees and snatched a young bird just before he touched down on
the loft.
My point is simple, never fly a bird you can not afford to
lose. It could have been any of the old birds or the cock I
spoke of. I do not think any bird is irreplaceable but the loss
of some can set you back in your program by years.
Take care my friends
Thom
#Post#: 7600--------------------------------------------------
Re: A hard lessen
DIR By: WhiteWing
Date: June 10, 2011, 9:59 am
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I agree with you Thom. Like you, I normally fly my birds out
for 2 years to ensure they hold up good before stocking them.
Last year I raised a hen that turned out to be an exceptional
bird. She had the ideal wing style, blur out spin, with depth
about 40 feet, and the deeper she got the faster she was. This
spring, she was coming up on a year old and I was really
fighting the urge to stock her. So I kept flying her, even
though she was fast and fairly deep, she had great control and
would snap out of the roll and rocket back to the kit every
time.
One morning I turned them out to fly, the weather was clear but
before they came in, heavy rain clouds had rolled in at a low
altitude. The whole kit flew above the clouds and they were out
of sight for some time. Man talk about being sick. I was
beating myself up the whole time for flying her instead of going
ahead and stocking her. Luckily, one by one, the whole kit made
it's way back to the box that day. Needless to say, that was
her last flight.
#Post#: 7607--------------------------------------------------
Re: A hard lessen
DIR By: Johnnie Williams
Date: June 10, 2011, 11:40 am
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I do not have problem with Hawks have lost very few to flying in
bad weather problems-- I HAVE VERY HIGH WIRES on south side of
my home and if wind ut of North they will fly in between wires--
today wind out of North and sure enough the best young Hen from
last year rolled in to wire took off wing-- she was best bird in
my WC kit 30 ft. and more and right back to kit- well that the
way it goes- some day better than others. GOD Bless!!
#Post#: 7615--------------------------------------------------
Re: A hard lessen
DIR By: wishiwon2
Date: June 10, 2011, 4:13 pm
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--- Quote from: WINGPATCHLOFT link ---
>
> to me , stocking some thing to soon , would do a lot less harm
than looseing one and wishing or wondering after it is to
late... to each his own....
>
--- End Quote ---
I have to disagree. Stocking birds too early is a slippery road
towards creating an unstable line.
Neither is good. In an ideal world we could fly them as long and
as much as we wanted without risk of loss and simply enjoy them.
But then if it were easy, everyone would do it.
#Post#: 7616--------------------------------------------------
Re: A hard lessen
DIR By: oldfart
Date: June 10, 2011, 4:59 pm
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I have to agree with wishiwon2. In fact the more consistent my
loft becomes the longer I feel a stock bird should have to prove
it's self. The overall loft quality of my breeding program has
improved to the point I no longer depend on key birds. Instead I
am trying to move the whole loft forward, not just individual
birds or lines within my strain. Still, I think there can be key
birds whose progeny can carry a loft forward and to take a risk
with them is foolhardy.
Take care my friends
Thom
#Post#: 7620--------------------------------------------------
Re: A hard lessen
DIR By: oldfart
Date: June 10, 2011, 8:42 pm
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That is oldfart pilgrim! :) If all the birds you have are seed
stock then of course protect them and fly their young. However,
not even nestmates are exactly alike so the only way is to fly
them, then breed them and see if they produce the quality you
want. In a perfect world it would take two to three years of
flying followed by two breeding seasons before I would call any
bird, stock.
Take care my friend
Thom
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