Cranfield Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 I have some dead bird cradles that are years old and blackish and hard to find if I drop them in cover when setting out my decoys. Even the ones with a turn of red insulation tape go missing. It has occurred to me to paint them matt white, or at least a matt colour lighter than black. Pigeons aren't supposed to recognise colour and as long as they are not shiny (unlike the brass cradles advertised on the Bay), they should be OK. Has anyone tried this ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigman Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 Mine are matt grey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 I dont think it would matter much if they were painted day glow orange , they are only needed it tall ish crops so the vegitation will hide most of it and the pigeon the rest , if you have any concerns just paint the neck prop a drab colour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted January 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 Matt grey sounds good. I also use mine in low, sparse, rape and on drillings, I don't think the profile is greater then the average full bodied plastic decoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 I will think outside of the box if it helps , in the centre of the cradle where the bird sits you could affix a dayglo piece of plastic it would be invisible when the bird is mounted and visible when the cradle is empty , if this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aga man Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 I will think outside of the box if it helps , in the centre of the cradle where the bird sits you could affix a dayglo piece of plastic it would be invisible when the bird is mounted and visible when the cradle is empty , if this helps Good idea! I have ssome painted white in the centre of the cradle, it can't be seen by incoming pigeons when a dead bird is on the cradle, yet the paint is very visible when packing up etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted January 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 Another good idea, thanks ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superspark Posted January 29, 2015 Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 It's not gonna matter what colour you paint them as the birds won't see them when they are sat on them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted January 29, 2015 Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 I've ditched cradles these days, in favour of fibre glass rods. Much easier to carry/store and just as effective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBS Posted January 29, 2015 Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 I've ditched cradles these days, in favour of fibre glass rods. Much easier to carry/store and just as effective. How do you use the rods? Is just a case of propping the head or up the back passage and in to the head? If so how do you stop them turning over? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted January 29, 2015 Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 How do you use the rods? Is just a case of propping the head or up the back passage and in to the head? If so how do you stop them turning over? Up the ***** and into the head, yes. I find that they don't turn over. Also, it doesn't seem to matter how high from the ground they are, even if they may appear to the pigeons to be 'floating'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBS Posted January 29, 2015 Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 Cheers Motty, What size and length is best? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suffolkngood Posted January 29, 2015 Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 Up the ***** and into the head, yes. I find that they don't turn over. Also, it doesn't seem to matter how high from the ground they are, even if they may appear to the pigeons to be 'floating'. I've used plant canes in the past but they seem to split after a couple of uses. Where did you get your fiberglass ones from? Do they splinter much and get into your fingers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted January 29, 2015 Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 Cheers Motty, What size and length is best? I'm not sure what's best, but I use rods that are around 2 - 2.5 feet long. I've used plant canes in the past but they seem to split after a couple of uses. Where did you get your fiberglass ones from? Do they splinter much and get into your fingers? I got mine from farmers. They haven't splintered and I don't expect them to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted January 29, 2015 Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 (edited) I've ditched cradles these days, in favour of fibre glass rods. Much easier to carry/store and just as effective.Sounds interesting. I like cradles, I ise the ones from Paul Hart which are quite tall, but they are a pain to store and transport. Using rods, don't the wings droop down? I'm not one for pruning the feathers on decoys to male them look perfect but wondering what happens with the wings. Cos Edited January 29, 2015 by Cosd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted January 29, 2015 Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 Sounds interesting. I like cradles, I ise the ones from Paul Hart which are quite tall, but they are a pain to store and transport. Using rods, don't the wings droop down? I'm not one for pruning the feathers on decoys to male them look perfect but wondering what happens with the wings. Cos Yes, Cos, the wings do droop down. The pigeons don't seem to mind, thankfully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suffolkngood Posted January 29, 2015 Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 What diameter will best support a dead bird yet still moves in the wind. There's plenty of 4mm fiberglass rods available on the..bay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted January 29, 2015 Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 Yes, Cos, the wings do droop down. The pigeons don't seem to mind, thankfully. Thanks for that. I might look at getting some. I was going to buy some more cradles at the shooting show but this sounds better. I did read this once some years back but forgot all about this technique. Thanks again Cos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dead eye alan Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 I have yoused this method befor with pea canes to stop the wings swinging about I got some elastic bands of the post man and just put them round the birds holding the wings in. Hope this makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linny Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 I have yoused this method befor with pea canes to stop the wings swinging about I got some elastic bands of the post man and just put them round the birds holding the wings in. Hope this makes sense. simple good idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobba Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 On a slightly different slant, I use short fibreglass rods with wing spreaders to make the birds look like landers. I tend to limit this to two of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 On a slightly different slant, I use short fibreglass rods with wing spreaders to make the birds look like landers. I tend to limit this to two of them. I also now do this. Why limit them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet1747 Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 Mine are std green stepped on loads over the last few years and crunched them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobba Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 I also now do this. Why limit them? Hi, good question. I don't know, is the answer. Given the prompt I think I will put a couple more out and see how it goes. As a matter of interest How many do you put out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 Hi, good question. I don't know, is the answer. Given the prompt I think I will put a couple more out and see how it goes. As a matter of interest How many do you put out? I maybe use up to three in the pattern. This is only down to not having more spreaders to use. I would happily use a few more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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