New Birds (tips)

Tony-P- · Sun Jul 26, 2026 9:27 pm

Hi All,
I have had up-date of one of the fanciers I'm getting the late bred birds from, and they are ready for me to pick up when I can.

I have made arrangements to pick up week commencing 3rd August as my loft will be ready to take the birds then.

Just looking for a few starter tips please,

Andy · Sun Jul 26, 2026 9:33 pm

Tony-P- wrote: Sun Jul 26, 2026 9:27 pm Hi All,
I have had up-date of one of the fanciers I'm getting the late bred birds from, and they are ready for me to pick up when I can.

I have made arrangements to pick up week commencing 3rd August as my loft will be ready to take the birds then.

Just looking for a few starter tips please,

All you can do for the first few days is let them settle Tony. Start with a routine that suits you. Just go in the loft, give a scrape out, fresh water and feed them. Stay in with them while you feed them. Call them or whistle, your choice, as you feed them. When they start going to the water remove the food. Do this twice a day so that they get used to you and your routine. Don’t worry about handling them at this stage but if they want to take food from your hand so much the better. May be a bit shy the first couple of days but will soon come to it.
Biggest thing, enjoy them.

Tony-P- · Sun Jul 26, 2026 9:37 pm

Andy wrote: Sun Jul 26, 2026 9:33 pm
Tony-P- wrote: Sun Jul 26, 2026 9:27 pm Hi All,
I have had up-date of one of the fanciers I'm getting the late bred birds from, and they are ready for me to pick up when I can.

I have made arrangements to pick up week commencing 3rd August as my loft will be ready to take the birds then.

Just looking for a few starter tips please,
All you can do for the first few days is let them settle Tony. Start with a routine that suits you. Just go in the loft, give a scrape out, fresh water and feed them. Stay in with them while you feed them. Call them or whistle, your choice, as you feed them. When they start going to the water remove the food. Do this twice a day so that they get used to you and your routine. Don’t worry about handling them at this stage but if they want to take food from your hand so much the better. May be a bit shy the first couple of days but will soon come to it.
Biggest thing, enjoy them.

thanks Andy, looking forward to getting the birds in mate

Murray · Mon Jul 27, 2026 9:14 am

I'm not going to add to that, Tony.
Andy is a very good flier who has had a lifetime in the sport. You would do well to listen to him and what he says.
Might be better than getting a bit from him and a bit from me and a bit from someone else.
I'll butt in if I think I can add something, but you are on a good track there, mate.

Diamond Dave · Mon Jul 27, 2026 10:25 am

Yes, great advice Andy and we'll said Murray.
I'm not qualified to give advice Tony but the one thing I will add is if you want to tame them down a bit (not everyone does) but if you do.... only clean out when the birds are in the loft ( if you have the time of course)
The birds get used to you being around, I have some that will sit on my head and shoulders and ride on the scraper and have to push them out of the way to scrape the perches - not for everyone mate but I like to go in my loft and just be able to pick them off the perches without having to chase them around.

Mon Jul 27, 2026 10:57 am

Have to agree with all that has been said, but with a little exception to all of Murrays, little bits from here and there can help tweak things a little so as I always say listen to it all and try what suits and works for you

Rdhd Danny · Mon Jul 27, 2026 11:00 am

@buster my opinion the same listen to everyone and take what you think helps from each person

Murray · Mon Jul 27, 2026 11:41 am

Buster121 wrote: Mon Jul 27, 2026 10:57 am Have to agree with all that has been said, but with a little exception to all of Murrays, little bits from here and there can help tweak things a little so as I always say listen to it all and try what suits and works for you

Fair point, Buster, what I meant was when someone is given good advice, we don't need to chip in, just because we can.
Andy gave him some good advice, we can do well to leave it there, I think.

Rdhd Danny · Mon Jul 27, 2026 11:46 am

@murray I get what you meant and yeah if the answer is good we don't always need to add to it absolutely

but I'll listen to any fancier and if I think they dropped a gem I'll pick it up and use it lol I been lucky my first boss was an amazing fancier mainly breeding was his best ability more than conditioning and training a man in UK called Derek Nicholls and then my next boss is what I consider to be uk best sprint fancier, I didn't get into the sport by interest that came after I got into it as a Job but always listening is key to success in anything in life I feel

Mon Jul 27, 2026 11:53 am

Rdhd Danny wrote: Mon Jul 27, 2026 11:46 am @murray I get what you meant and yeah if the answer is good we don't always need to add to it absolutely but I'll listen to any fancier and if I think they dropped a gem I'll pick it up and use it lol I been lucky my first boss was an amazing fancier mainly breeding was his best ability more than conditioning and training a man in UK called Derek Nicholls and then my next boss is what I consider to be uk best sprint fancier, I didn't get into the sport by interest that came after I got into it as a Job but always listening is key to success in anything in life I feel

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