I'm not sure how old these youngsters are, Tony, so I'm hesitant to say do this or do that and you end up losing some.
If they are less than 4 weeks old I bring them home one day, give them another day in the loft and then I let them out. I can't remember when I lost one.
If they are 5 or 6 weeks old you might want to give them 4 or 5 days to really get settled. Not too much longer. The longer they are locked in the greater the chance of a flyaway.
That's only my thoughts and they come with no guarantee at all.
Tony, you cant leave it to long before you let them out. They will be geetting strong on the wing. Just make sure when you are letting them out. everything is calm and quiet in the garden. Then let them venture out of the loft, when they are ready. Keep a calm environment at all times, and let them venture in and out of the loft and around the garden. One way or the the other, you have to make a move before to strong on the wing.
Whatch out for any other flyers birds, flying around loft flying.
Devo1956 wrote: Sat Aug 08, 2026 12:12 pm
Tony, you cant leave it to long before you let them out. They will be geetting strong on the wing. Just make sure when you are letting them out. everything is calm and quiet in the garden. Then let them venture out of the loft, when they are ready. Keep a calm environment at all times, and let them venture in and out of the loft and around the garden. One way or the the other, you have to make a move before to strong on the wing.
Whatch out for any other flyers birds, flying around loft flying.
That's what I said mate
Sadies Lofts home of decent birds just a useless loft manager, and now a confirmed loser but proud
Devo1956 wrote: Sat Aug 08, 2026 12:12 pm
Tony, you cant leave it to long before you let them out. They will be geetting strong on the wing. Just make sure when you are letting them out. everything is calm and quiet in the garden. Then let them venture out of the loft, when they are ready. Keep a calm environment at all times, and let them venture in and out of the loft and around the garden. One way or the the other, you have to make a move before to strong on the wing.
Whatch out for any other flyers birds, flying around loft flying.
That's what I said mate
Yes Buster, stressful times for youngsters, and the keeper.
Thanks Devo very similar to the fella I got the birds off.
he said the same thing but to build a platform with the basket one end facing the trap and open the basket call them with food from the loft they should walk or fly to the loft.
do this a few times by moving the basket back a few feet each time
then put the basket on the floor some distance back and call them in.
so very similar to what you said.
I have phone number rings coming asap once these are on I will start the training mate
“Although I’m a Scot, I’d be proud to be called a Scouser.”
Murray wrote: Sat Aug 08, 2026 9:12 am
I'm not sure how old these youngsters are, Tony, so I'm hesitant to say do this or do that and you end up losing some.
If they are less than 4 weeks old I bring them home one day, give them another day in the loft and then I let them out. I can't remember when I lost one.
If they are 5 or 6 weeks old you might want to give them 4 or 5 days to really get settled. Not too much longer. The longer they are locked in the greater the chance of a flyaway.
That's only my thoughts and they come with no guarantee at all.
Thanks Murray, I got them on Wednesday so been in the loft 4 days now
“Although I’m a Scot, I’d be proud to be called a Scouser.”
Devo1956 wrote: Sat Aug 08, 2026 12:12 pm
Tony, you cant leave it to long before you let them out. They will be geetting strong on the wing. Just make sure when you are letting them out. everything is calm and quiet in the garden. Then let them venture out of the loft, when they are ready. Keep a calm environment at all times, and let them venture in and out of the loft and around the garden. One way or the the other, you have to make a move before to strong on the wing.
Whatch out for any other flyers birds, flying around loft flying.
Thanks Devo for the tips mate
“Although I’m a Scot, I’d be proud to be called a Scouser.”
Diamond Dave wrote: Sat Aug 08, 2026 8:44 am
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.
I used to place mine on the trap a few days after weaning. (a bird can fly down, before it can fly up). They used to sit there till the first dropped in, the others saw this and followed suit. They all knew how to get in the loft well before they ever took a flight. When the odd bird went missing when flipping round, They never panicked when they returned,straight down and in.
Diamond Dave wrote: Sat Aug 08, 2026 8:44 am
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.
I used to place mine on the trap a few days after weaning. (a bird can fly down, before it can fly up). They used to sit there till the first dropped in, the others saw this and followed suit. They all knew how to get in the loft well before they ever took a flight. When the odd bird went missing when flipping round, They never panicked when they returned,straight down and in.
Yes that's what I've said previously in a post before, usually when they are still on the floor before they can get upto the perches. Most would drop in with a little food dropped into the trap for encouragement.
Diamond Dave wrote: Sat Aug 08, 2026 8:44 am
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.
I used to place mine on the trap a few days after weaning. (a bird can fly down, before it can fly up). They used to sit there till the first dropped in, the others saw this and followed suit. They all knew how to get in the loft well before they ever took a flight. When the odd bird went missing when flipping round, They never panicked when they returned,straight down and in.
Yes that's what I've said previously in a post before, usually when they are still on the floor before they can get upto the perches. Placed on the landing most would drop in with a little food dropped into the trap for encouragement.
unfortunately I think imo they maybe a bit strong you can only try to overcome this.
