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Lindy Rig
Central Minnesota

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04/06/2007 9:51 AM	Alert
Ok, so I've gotten some advice on how to "card" a pigeon for training a pup. Anyone ever "card" a Chukar? Reasonable to expect it to work the same? I am going to get my 3 mos old on some birds this weekend and debating whether to dizzy and plant or "card" the Chukars. Thanks

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Jere

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04/06/2007 10:59 AM	Alert
Chukar will recall. If space is available that would be my preferred technique of using them for working on pointing and manners on birds. One of the major issues with planted chukar is that they tend to run from the site where they are planted. This can be partially countered by hobbling them. I've seen it done but haven't myself. A piece of red surveyor's tape was tied securely to one leg then to the other so as to limit the relative range of motion of the two legs. (you will have to experiment with this.) The tape length was chosen so there was a length 18" to 2' left dangling. The bird could be caught by this later. It also helped locate the bird when working dog on check cord. I'm not a fan of using dizzied birds no matter whose skin they are in. Jere

mattkeenan
Salem, OR

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04/06/2007 3:28 PM	Alert
carding can work with both pigeons and chuckar. However, I have instances with both species in which my dog was able to capture the bird. the string/card can easily get caught up on vegetation, and once my pup actually just snagged the card as the chuckar flushed, and pulled the bird down. This bird-in-mouth exposure may be OK once or twice with a very young pup to enhance "birdiness", but after that it should be avoided at all costs! I have had the same problem with dizzying birds. If you are going to card... i suggest the following: 1) do it in a very "open" grassland (i.e. no shrubs, thorns, cattails, etc.) 2) use a short string 3) perhaps try something other than a card. I was going to use a fishing weight tied between two tightly "hobbled" legs, but then worried about the dog injesting the lead weight. Perhaps a block of wood, or some other object that is the proper weight, but small enough to prevent the dog from grabbing on. I have personally sworn myself off of any type of restriction of bird movement (carding, hobbling, dizzying, etc.) as I have had too many bad instances of bird captures. try getting the birds to recall... I have had good luck with quail that I just let fly and land wherever they choose, then recall after the "hunt". -Matt

Matthew Keenan matthew.t.keenan@gmail.com

Doc_E
N.E. WA state

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04/06/2007 6:05 PM	Alert
Use a piece of garden hose on the string instead of a card. .

Doc E and Cujo Casey boy.

Jere

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04/06/2007 9:41 PM	Alert
The dog MUST be under control when worked on any incapacitated bird. Check cord anyone? Jere

Lindy Rig
Central Minnesota

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04/07/2007 5:10 AM	Alert
Thanks for the suggestions. You think I should use a checkcord on a 3 mos old? I thought the idea was for her to interact naturally, but maybe that just refers to wild birds. A carded chukar isn't very natural I guess..

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Lindy Rig
Central Minnesota

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04/07/2007 9:26 AM	Alert
Well, somewhat of a botched attempt. I tied a piece of garden hose to their legs. My own fault, I guess I didn't cut a large enough chunk. Anyway, they both flew off probably 100+ yards. Then to top it off, we were walking around the edge of a swamp trying to find them and I cracked through the ice (only up to knees). The pup was right behind me, so she went too. Needless to say, not quite as planned

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mattkeenan
Salem, OR

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04/07/2007 7:22 PM	Alert
Don't worry, it seldom is - at least not for me Messin' with birds is a lot of trial and error. Nothing is quite like an unrestricted bird: you can keep the situation natural and fun - and let the dog flush the birds plenty of times to learn that it doesn't work. With a check-cord, the pup learns (best case) that he didn't catch the bird because you stopped him - not because flushing is fruitless. So you try to balance it by letting the pup flush the bird, but stopping pup from eating bird -- this is where the worst case scenerio comes in: hose gets caugt on brush, and a 20" piece of garden hose is a pretty easy thing for pup to get his teeth on. Maybe you just need "flightier" birds than I had. But yeah, I found somewhere between 16" and 22" was the correct weight. maybe use 3 6" sections, then it won't be as easy for pup to catch?

Matthew Keenan matthew.t.keenan@gmail.com

Lindy Rig
Central Minnesota

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04/08/2007 5:36 AM	Alert
Thanks Matt Update: I took her back to the same field last night. Mainly just to get out for a walk, but also I knew those birds would probably still be there. We were strolling along as usual, but this time heading into the wind. About midway, I look back to see what she's doing. She was sniffing the air intently, and then it happened. Her first point! I couldn't believe it - there was the chukar sitting in some cover a few feet away. Made the day a little better

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Trout Bum
Elbert County, CO

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04/09/2007 6:01 AM	Alert
Posted By Lindy Rig on 04/08/2007 5:36 AM Thanks Matt Update: I took her back to the same field last night. Mainly just to get out for a walk, but also I knew those birds would probably still be there. We were strolling along as usual, but this time heading into the wind. About midway, I look back to see what she's doing. She was sniffing the air intently, and then it happened. Her first point! I couldn't believe it - there was the chukar sitting in some cover a few feet away. Made the day a little better They always do better when in a natural setting without human intervention. If you feel the need to plant chukars.......handle as little as possible. Hold the bird by it's feet hanging upside down and then just toss them under a bush and walk away.......or open up the cage door and let a few out and walk away.

¶r²

311Hemi
Mounds View, MN

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04/09/2007 11:10 AM	Alert
Posted By Lindy Rig on 04/08/2007 5:36 AM Update: I took her back to the same field last night. Mainly just to get out for a walk, but also I knew those birds would probably still be there. We were strolling along as usual, but this time heading into the wind. About midway, I look back to see what she's doing. She was sniffing the air intently, and then it happened. Her first point! I couldn't believe it - there was the chukar sitting in some cover a few feet away. Made the day a little better

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