Behaviour
(Internet Published) Mar 2001
Pigeons that have been used to flying in a kit will sometimes become silly
or partly disorientated if they, by chance, become isolated and caused to
fly on their own. There is no logic in this behaviour. An example is when
all of the kit is safely down and eager to enter the loft but one or even
two continue to fly, despite all manner of coaxing.
I have learned to recognise the signs and I know that if I don't take prompt
action, I am going to be fooling around for a long time. The sun may go down
and then I shall be messing about in very bad light and with my feet chilled
like two blocks of ice. Therefore, the prompt action required is to make the
entire kit take off again. It works like magic - The idiot or idiots quickly
hook up with their kit mates and then with my usual coaxing the entire issue
is down very soon. The disqualification's with contest Tipplers due to one
kit member that had failed to drop, caused by this solo flying allergy are
extremely common.
The mere fluttering of droppers does not often work but a solution that
often does is to employ droppers that will fly briefly and hook the
disturbed "solo", stupefied or obstreperous individuals. No man should
underestimate the value of active droppers. Static droppers with no movement
in them are of no value at all in difficult times.
Large kits of pigeons that are used to regular exercise as a large kit often
become nervous and stupid if the kit gets split up. Typically, about 20 of
them drop to the loft but one or just a few continue to fly nervously. It is
remarkable how such as these quickly settle down when the other 20 are cause
to fly again. They hook up and in a short time the entire kit drops
together.
There is a warning however, that unless a kit is trained to darkness or bad
light, every pigeon will become nervous and unmanageable if, by chance,
still out of the loft as the daylight fails. Except for contesting tipplers,
I believe that flying into bad light should be avoided. It is too risky and
the last thing that any fancier wants is to have pigeons out all night.