Gun Dog Forum

Just built a 8'X8'X25' flight pen. I built a wire bottom platform 3'X6' that is raised with ropes that has food and watering station. My end goal is to raise the platform to 5' high to strengthen their wing muscles. After one day with it on the ground, I raised the platform 4 inches. I was amazed to find the 6 week old bobs did not hop up on the platform. They congregated under it. Lowered it to 2 inch off the ground and they hopped right up and started to eat and drink. Guess I need to go very slow.

Can you post pics of it?

1/2 in square wire lower 30 inch. 1inch poly net above. Feed and water platform to rear of pen. Heat controlled styrafoam warming box on right. Electrified perimeter fence in forground on insulated T posts.

Nice job. Electric fence for the yotes I'm guessing.

MGIII wrote:Nice job. Electric fence for the yotes I'm guessing.

No, it is to keep the dog away from the birds.

oldbeek wrote:

MGIII wrote:Nice job. Electric fence for the yotes I'm guessing.

No, it is to keep the dog away from the birds.

It's to keep your bird dog away from the birds?

My thoughts also ANDY!! The reason you own a bird dog is to be AROUND birds ISN"T IT?

Vonzeppelinkennels wrote:My thoughts also ANDY!! The reason you own a bird dog is to be AROUND birds ISN"T IT?

Ted we are on the same page, I do not think it is advisable to have hot wire to keep your bird dog away from birds, you may never have an issue, however it is not something I would risk.

I have used a hot wire all my life. First time was a stud dog that would climb chain link. put a hot wire around the top and he only touched it once. Wire along the bottom of the fence, NO digging out. Wire along the top of a 4 ft fence. No going over. Single wire around wifes garden. Single wire around the Gazebo with bedding plants. Most wires never have a charger put on them. Kind of like putting on the e-collar and leaving the transmitter in the truck. Dog thinks,, I better fly right.

ACooper wrote:

Vonzeppelinkennels wrote:My thoughts also ANDY!! The reason you own a bird dog is to be AROUND birds ISN"T IT?

Ted we are on the same page, I do not think it is advisable to have hot wire to keep your bird dog away from birds, you may never have an issue, however it is not something I would risk.

I have seen many people do this and have never seen it cause a problem. Don't think it is any different than me yelling or using the collar when they harass the birds in the aviaries. Dogs know the difference of birds in a pen and in a field.

That is my point a hot wire to keep dogs away from those things is a little different then keeping them away from birds.Have you ever heard of dogs blinking birds?
Your dog your choice just not wise in my eyes.

Had dog at a NSTRA trial this weekend. Definitely not blinking birds. Back to the pen. Have the feed platform up to 30 inch high now. Bobs seem to enjoy flying. They just go back and forth from ground to the platform. Going to start raising platform 6 inch per day.

How many birds do you keep in the pen? Does it need to be that big or is it that big so you can increase the number of birds in it. How many do you think you can keep in it without them starting to kill each other. Also how do you keep it clean? I like your set up. I am hoping to build one next year and gathering info now.
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I am just learning myself. I think I could keep 100 easily with that much room. I built it for possible chukars in the future. I live in a sandy area. I will rake up heavy poop areas and add more sand.

Feed and water platform is at 6 ft high now. Birds flying real well.

oldbeek wrote:Feed and water platform is at 6 ft high now. Birds flying real well.

Right on. How many birds do you have?

about 25. I will be using them up training now that they are mature. Have my eye on some chuckars for the next batch.