I'm looking for some tips on the best way to get these 9 Y/Bs confident in flying out so basically from start to finish. I only picked the Y/Bs up on Wednesday in their new home, they have everything in the loft the need at the moment and are on easy clean perches.
I have fitted an aviary today and they have been in it for a couple of hours looking round and flying from the aviary to the perches and back
so my question is how and what do I do next to move the birds on to getting them to fly and trap
“Although I’m a Scot, I’d be proud to be called a Scouser.”
4 weeks minimum before you let them out mate as you didn't breed them there so need longer then on the day you let them out make a bath outside on the floor facing the trap, you want a quiet calm garden when you do this, but other than that you don't need to be thinking about training, just stick to same times for feeds and keep using whistle or call, start getting them to come from aviary to loft for feed by call you want them responding to your call mate
myself i would be looking at getting them out before they get to strong on the wing, get them in the aviary as long as possible then just open door Sunday or Monday, as long as they are getting used to me shouldn't be a problem, as I say ''myself'' make sure no racing about whatever day you do it
Sadies Lofts home of decent birds just a useless loft manager, and now a confirmed loser but proud
Rdhd Danny wrote: Fri Aug 07, 2026 9:01 pm
4 weeks minimum before you let them out mate as you didn't breed them there so need longer then on the day you let them out make a bath outside on the floor facing the trap, you want a quiet calm garden when you do this, but other than that you don't need to be thinking about training, just stick to same times for feeds and keep using whistle or call, start getting them to come from aviary to loft for feed by call you want them responding to your call mate
Thanks Danny much appreciated the support and advice mate
“Although I’m a Scot, I’d be proud to be called a Scouser.”
Buster121 wrote: Fri Aug 07, 2026 9:11 pm
myself i would be looking at getting them out before they get to strong on the wing, get them in the aviary as long as possible then just open door Sunday or Monday, as long as they are getting used to me shouldn't be a problem, as I say ''myself'' make sure no racing about whatever day you do it
thanks Buster when you say open the door do you mean the door to let the birds out of the loft / aviary into the garden mate
“Although I’m a Scot, I’d be proud to be called a Scouser.”
Buster121 wrote: Fri Aug 07, 2026 9:11 pm
myself i would be looking at getting them out before they get to strong on the wing, get them in the aviary as long as possible then just open door Sunday or Monday, as long as they are getting used to me shouldn't be a problem, as I say ''myself'' make sure no racing about whatever day you do it
thanks Buster when you say open the door do you mean the door to let the birds out of the loft / aviary into the garden mate
Yes let them out, not advising you to do it saying what I would do if my birds, as other will say we all have our own methods and ways, but if they get to strong on the wing they will be up and away
Sadies Lofts home of decent birds just a useless loft manager, and now a confirmed loser but proud
Personally I would let them be able to venture out next week. Don’t force them. Just open the front up so that they can come out if they want. If they are already flying up to the perches and out into your aviary they are already fairly strong. I wouldn’t be leaving them too long. Once they are responding when you feed them they should be ok. I would usually have new ones going out after a couple of days. Having said that I usually like to have them at around 24 days old. At that stage they can’t fly up to the perches so won’t venture out for a while anyway.
It will be a worrying time for you when they first go out. But after they have been out and come back in they shouldn’t be a problem.
Andy wrote: Fri Aug 07, 2026 10:34 pm
Personally I would let them be able to venture out next week. Don’t force them. Just open the front up so that they can come out if they want. If they are already flying up to the perches and out into your aviary they are already fairly strong. I wouldn’t be leaving them too long. Once they are responding when you feed them they should be ok. I would usually have new ones going out after a couple of days. Having said that I usually like to have them at around 24 days old. At that stage they can’t fly up to the perches so won’t venture out for a while anyway.
It will be a worrying time for you when they first go out. But after they have been out and come back in they shouldn’t be a problem.
ok thanks for the tips Andy I'll look at doing that this week then, is it best to have them a bit hungry for this to be done
“Although I’m a Scot, I’d be proud to be called a Scouser.”
Buster121 wrote: Fri Aug 07, 2026 9:11 pm
myself i would be looking at getting them out before they get to strong on the wing, get them in the aviary as long as possible then just open door Sunday or Monday, as long as they are getting used to me shouldn't be a problem, as I say ''myself'' make sure no racing about whatever day you do it
thanks Buster when you say open the door do you mean the door to let the birds out of the loft / aviary into the garden mate
Yes let them out, not advising you to do it saying what I would do if my birds, as other will say we all have our own methods and ways, but if they get to strong on the wing they will be up and away
Yes everyone you speak to seems to do things a bit different and I know it finding my best system I have phone number rings on order so once they get to me and they are on the birds I will try giving it ago and let them out thanks Buster
“Although I’m a Scot, I’d be proud to be called a Scouser.”
My way is belt n braces Tony but not saying its right.
For me ybs can panic when they don't know how to get back in the loft.
Not sure what type of traps you have but I put them in a basket and take them out in front of the loft on a table or chair so a bit closer to the height of the trap before feeding.
Then call them from inside the loft and put the food down. Then physically push them through the trap one at a time. Do that for around a week.
Then do the same the following week but just let them go from your hand in front of the trap. When they are all doing that OK take the basket a bit further away from the trap and so on. If one bird flies up/off wait until you get it in before putting anymore out.
Then ultimately, when they are all trapping well from your hand when you see them responding to your call and wanting to get out the basket for food, drop the flap on the basket and let them all go together.
If you are getting more birds at different times this method would probably suit them better because you are in control all the time.
It's long winded but probably the safest way of training them to the loft.
Also gets them used to the basket and they can see the front of the loft and the immediate surroundings. I only got a small garden but I place the basket at different points each time.
We all have different ideas and methods.
If you do adopt this method start straight away. I start as soon as they start responding to my food call so maybe about a week or so from weaning.
Ultimately, I take them to somewhere they can't see the loft but make sure they can hear my call (behind a fence)
Good luck mate.
