Need birds (training)

Dirty E · 06-03-2002, 12:04 PM

Hiddy ho, Ya'll I just picked up my GWP this weekend and I'm going to build a pen for birds to train my dog with, I will start with pigeons and go from there. I'm new to all this and learning as Im going so if anyone has suggestions or experiences they can share that would be appreciated, but I need to know if theres somewhere I can contact about purchasing birds. thanks and wish me luck. Erik

crabbait · 06-03-2002, 07:36 PM

Erik - I have trained some retreivers. E-mail me if I can be of any help.

Look at the library section of Gun Dog magazine. They have a great selection of training manuals.

I have a coop and could use some pigeons as well.

Good luck.

Flatfish · 06-03-2002, 08:15 PM

I probably shouldn't admit to this in public, but it's for the dog right?We get sky carp (rock doves if memory serves)from overpasses at night.To scout for the prime roosting areas,just look for doodie concentrated under a single beam/girder.Then at night go there with a flashlight and steelhead/salmon net.This is the truth.Hit several overpasses in an evening.Hit both sides too.A designated driver is helpful.
Yeah you could probably buy the birds instead.But you will not appreciate the birds nearly as much.
Good Luck with Pooch.
Mark.

Dirty E · 06-03-2002, 09:54 PM

I like the way you think, I think I know a few good places to try. Also I was told to use homing pigeons so they will return to the roost and hopefully use the same birds over. But sounds like just good redneck fun anyhow. Erik

Dan Christopher · 06-11-2002, 11:22 PM

i use to raise pigens,phesant,quail,and chuker..i got chicks raised them to adult then hatched there eggs in an incubater.i had over 200 birds..thats alot of food.and poop

homeing pigens have to be born at your home to retern to your home.so all will fly away if you let them.take a bread tie and tie there feet together and clip the wings so they cant fly more than 20 yards.or you can use stringtie one end to the bread tie and the other to a piece of garden hose to it to wiegh them down start with a big piece and cut it down after you see them fly with it.pigens will eat (hen scratch.(chicken food.)

the other birds eat (game bird starter for chicks or game bird flight for adults)if you buy chicks and raise them , enless you fly the same birds all the time they wont be strong enough to fly more than 30- 50 yard max tell they crash down.if you train your dog force fetch and to be soft mouth you can reuse all your birds.water dog is a good book.hit the liberary and you will find a ton of them but this was the best buy far.as they say everyone can train a great dog ,just not your first one.but this book will teach you more than any other and you can just keep checking it out tell you are done with it.

i got my chicks from burns feed store in orent just outside of gresham oregon they have them all for about .80 to $1.25 a chick.i got the pigens from the feed store just before you get to sandy for about $4.00 each.they are alll real easy to raise but try not to croud the phesants to much they tend to freak out when people come around and bonk there heads on the top of a small cage.mine was 3 feet tall and was to short

if you have any questions just let me know...good luck

Dirty E · 06-12-2002, 07:29 AM

Thanks Mr. wizard, I got my GWP to point on the pheasant wing the other day on his first time dragging the wing around the yard. Hopefully this is a sign of good things to come, I really appreciate the advise I'm a total greenhorn in this area, so the help is appreciated. I found some button quail locally where I live not sure exactly what they are except the guy said there rather small quail. which may be good for a young pup to play with. thanks again and I will check out the feed stores. Erik

Dan Christopher · 06-12-2002, 09:58 AM

they are more than likely bob white quail..they will work great better than the rest.... :smile:

bigshark · 06-12-2002, 01:31 PM

Dirty........I'd like to suggest that you may want to run this "small quail" idea past Tilla, Labsforme, or Capin Dan. These birds my not be the best thing for training because of their size. Something about being just the right size
for a light lunch or snak for the dog. If your pup starts eating birds what are you going to do? :grin: Seriously it is worth checking with these guys as they have a lot of experince.

Dan Christopher · 06-12-2002, 09:05 PM

if your dog is going to eat a bird ,size will not matter.point is dont let the dog eat the bird..it is (your) bird and the dog has to know and be trained that...i.e( force fetch) but by hell or high water it is your bird.never ever let a dog eat a bird..but the bob whites hold up better to the sharp puppy teeth and the cuts from the teeth heal quicker.

Labsforme · 06-13-2002, 04:16 AM

Dirty,in exposing a puppy to birds,quail do make too tempting a mouthful.I had a 3 yr old GSP(had been FF) running in open all age and gun dog stakes eat one at a trial :shocked: (fortunately the judges were looking the other way).FF would be on probably at least a 7 month old(depending on temperment) pup.Pigeons are cheaper and much tougher.Wing clipped is a good idea.Always make it fun,for the dog and you.There are many good local clubs to train with,right Tilla and Dan?

BW · 06-13-2002, 06:25 AM

Button quail are not Bob White's. About all they are good for is making your dog break ( chase them). I am in a club that trains Springers, and we have found that chuckers make great birds to train with. Easy to plant, don't run off too quickly, and flush well.

bigshark · 06-13-2002, 04:00 PM

Dirty
When I drove over to Battleground WA a few weeks ago their is a large sign that says Chuckers For Sale. It is on the left side of the road going east into town. Might want to try them and see if they could be a source for chicks if you want to raise your own. I know the Wilco store above Oregon City had chucker and pheasant chicks last week.

[ 06-13-2002, 05:12 PM: Message edited by: bigshark ]

Dirty E · 06-14-2002, 07:14 AM

thanks guys, I talked with the guy that had these button quail and he said they were inside quail like pets or something, anyway I will keep searching, How soon can I get him on birds, he is 10 weeks old, we have been dragging a pheasant wing around the yard and he will point it ocasionally, but I think its more on sight rather than scent. Thanks again. Dirty

BW · 06-14-2002, 08:16 AM

I would try giving him a bird with the wings taped to it's body. Some times when a young dog takes a live bird in his mouth the first time he is put off by the wings flapping.