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AA decoys flapper


robdab
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I've had one for quite a while & had no problems. Best price I could find for decent quality & includes timer. I've changed my timer to an adjustable one because I thought the flapping went on too long.Remember to break the wings, there is a video on Youtube to show you how to set it up.I find 1.2 amp/hr lasts me a normal session & is small & light, but you might want to get the next size up (2.4 a/h?) for a long session.If you've got a screwfix near you that might save you postage.I also got a metre length of mild steel from B&Q to extend the flapper above a standing crop, sometimes helps them see it.All the best with it.

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I've had one for quite a while & had no problems. Best price I could find for decent quality & includes timer. I've changed my timer to an adjustable one because I thought the flapping went on too long.Remember to break the wings, there is a video on Youtube to show you how to set it up.I find 1.2 amp/hr lasts me a normal session & is small & light, but you might want to get the next size up (2.4 a/h?) for a long session.If you've got a screwfix near you that might save you postage.I also got a metre length of mild steel from B&Q to extend the flapper above a standing crop, sometimes helps them see it.All the best with it.

Hi mate thanks for your reply yes I've just watched the vid on YouTube it's quite useful and informative I'm glad I chose this one should stand me in good stead

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  • 3 weeks later...

I bought a couple of AA flappers earlier this year. On the plus side, they seem to do the job of flapping a dead pigeon's wings in a vaguely realistic manner, although much slower than when a pigeon is landing. Battery usage is very good, running them on 7.5ah batteries they barely take any life out of them over a few hours' use. Have bought two smaller 3.2ah batteries to keep weight down if I don't need them for long sessions

 

One arm on one of the flappers always seems to be flapping differently, the bird flaps a bit lop-sided. The arm seems loose at its fixing point inside but I don't want to try taking it apart to investigate in case I knacker the whole thing up! I've always made sure the wings are broken, but I don't know whether it was like that to begin with or if I've broken it somehow.

 

The ground stake is a bit flimsy, they could do with being longer and of a solid round bar that you can hammer into hard ground. All clay round here, rock hard from Spring till Autumn, have to straighten them out after every time they are used.

 

The black paint flakes off instantly when you start using them, revealing shiny mild steel.

 

I'd like the timer to be less "on" and more "off" because I think they can initially attract a pigeon's attention, and then flap wildly when the bird is coming in, scaring it away. I get lots of birds appear from nowhere which shows it works, but then it goes mad flapping and the pigeons jink off or just do a fly-by 40yds out, never to come back for a second look. Could obviously be something else in the pattern or the hide not very effective, I've not been in the decoying game all that long!

 

I know there's more negative than positive there but to be honest, in short, they work. I don't see how paying twice as much (or more) is going to get any significant advantage, but will stand corrected if I ever get to compare side by side with any others!

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I bought a couple of AA flappers earlier this year. On the plus side, they seem to do the job of flapping a dead pigeon's wings in a vaguely realistic manner, although much slower than when a pigeon is landing. Battery usage is very good, running them on 7.5ah batteries they barely take any life out of them over a few hours' use. Have bought two smaller 3.2ah batteries to keep weight down if I don't need them for long sessions

 

One arm on one of the flappers always seems to be flapping differently, the bird flaps a bit lop-sided. The arm seems loose at its fixing point inside but I don't want to try taking it apart to investigate in case I knacker the whole thing up! I've always made sure the wings are broken, but I don't know whether it was like that to begin with or if I've broken it somehow.

 

The ground stake is a bit flimsy, they could do with being longer and of a solid round bar that you can hammer into hard ground. All clay round here, rock hard from Spring till Autumn, have to straighten them out after every time they are used.

 

The black paint flakes off instantly when you start using them, revealing shiny mild steel.

 

I'd like the timer to be less "on" and more "off" because I think they can initially attract a pigeon's attention, and then flap wildly when the bird is coming in, scaring it away. I get lots of birds appear from nowhere which shows it works, but then it goes mad flapping and the pigeons jink off or just do a fly-by 40yds out, never to come back for a second look. Could obviously be something else in the pattern or the hide not very effective, I've not been in the decoying game all that long!

 

I know there's more negative than positive there but to be honest, in short, they work. I don't see how paying twice as much (or more) is going to get any significant advantage, but will stand corrected if I ever get to compare side by side with any others!

I bought an adjustable timer off the bay quite cheap, which has been mentioned in a previous post. You could use a remote on/off switch if you want to faff about.Are you sure it's a fault with the flapper, or where you're attaching the wings which can make a difference to how it flaps? Try it without a pigeon on (obviously at home,not in the field!)

Edited by HIDENSEEK
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