Live Birds?

[RichK]

At what age is it ok to introduce my new pup to live birds?

Any idea where I can get live pigeons in western NY?

[bonasa]

Ten to twelve weeks. Trapping/netting in barns or overpasses. Otherwise, craigslist is a good place to start. Pick up a dozen yb's next month and you should be good.

[Doc E]

7.5 to 8 weeks.

I guess you missed this thread -- take a look viewtopic.php?f=89&t=41269


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[RichK]

Ten to twelve weeks. Trapping/netting in barns or overpasses. Otherwise, craigslist is a good place to start. Pick up a dozen yb's next month and you should be good.

yb's?

[Double Shot Banks]

Ten to twelve weeks. Trapping/netting in barns or overpasses. Otherwise, craigslist is a good place to start. Pick up a dozen yb's next month and you should be good.

yb's?

I believe he meant young birds, pigeons that people sell, not as nesting/egg laying birds, only a few months old but they can fly
Isaac and Banks

[Duckdon]

I agree with Doc on starting pups real young. I start on quail and pigeons with the pup just looking at them through the wire and progressing as the pup indicates readiness. By 12 -14 weeks I would expect them to be attempting to handle live, running, quacking ducks with aggressive eaze.

guyjoseyduck14weeks.jpg

Here are 2 young pups at 14 weeks working a live duck. The DD is very aggressive with ducks at this stage and the Chocolate lab more stand-off-ish. Both are about 14 months old now, with hundreds of shot birds over them and both real deal hunting machines on dry land and in the water. Don