[JeffK-MN]

Hi All this is a great site.
I have a 6mo CLF that I'm training my self.
I work her on OB every night but I try to do marks 2-3 times a week.
I just got some dead pigeons and ducks.
I have them in the freezer and have tryed some retrieves with frozen birds but she drops it then picks it back up to finsh coming in.
If the bird is thawed out she comes all the way with it.
What is the best way to store the birds and how long do you use them?
Thanks for any info Jeff

 

[helencalif]

WE freeze the birds, thaw the birds, use the birds, freeze the birds, thaw the birds /... etc etc until they either fall apart or stink so bad when thawed no wives will touch them.

A final rites giver,
Helen

 

[Ron in Portland]

Same here. Freeze, thaw, use, refreeze. Typically we'll get two to four uses, depending on how many dogs in the group (the more you throw it, the more beat up it gets), how much water work, and how warm it is.

I've heard of some that use the two-gag rule. If you smell it and it only makes you gag, then it's still good to use. If it makes you gag twice, time to toss it.

You get there sooner in the Summer.

 

[nuts4ducksjw]

With one dog if you don't leave them out all day in the sun they will last a long time

 

[Pam Spears]

Another thaw, use, refreezer here. When I first freeze a dead but clean & new bird, I tuck it's head under it's wing and wrap in paper, then put in the freezer without wrapping in plastic. I think they kind of dehydrate this way, they stay nice longer unless you start using them in the water. After a use or two I just put them in plastic grocery bags, but they stay light and take longer to get stinky. Not sure how I feel about duck moisture forming in the freezer frost, but my freezer doesn't stink, and the human food is all well wrapped

 

[whitefoot]

Same here. Freeze, thaw, use, refreeze. Typically we'll get two to four uses, depending on how many dogs in the group (the more you throw it, the more beat up it gets), how much water work, and how warm it is.

I've heard of some that use the two-gag rule. If you smell it and it only makes you gag, then it's still good to use. If it makes you gag twice, time to toss it.

You get there sooner in the Summer.

2 to 4 uses??? Jeez, you'd probably hate to train with me! Depending on how much water work a particuar bird gets, I probably use birds for at least a week.

 

[verne socks]

I've found that they are better in the refrigerator if you are going to consistantly use them. Last for like a month that way...Better than freeze/thaw routine.

 

[Duckquilizer]

I actually had a few dry out enough that it lasted almost 3 weeks of 5 day use while it was cool out. They went back in the garage fridge when not in use. They almost felt dehydrated. The last day or 2 of that 3 weeks did get a little tough...

 

[SCOTT C.]

Water work will take its toll on them. Dry them off as much as possible before re-freezing them.

 

[Kenneth Niles Bora]

.... I tuck it's head under it's wing and wrap in paper, then put in the freezer without wrapping in plastic

same here, news paper.
easy to ID late at night.
I hate pullin a couple birds,
tossin' um in the back of the
truck. And in the A.M. at the
field finding you brung two paks
of stew meat, instead of ducks


.

 

[Danny Castro]

We freeze them also , use till they fall apart are get really smelly.;-)

 

[Jim Person]

Same here, But, with a 6 month old pup, she could be teething. Also I like to use freshly killed,or live birds with a dog that young. You don't want to turn them off of birds or create a bad habit so young. A dog that age I might stick to bumpers until force fetched then get back on birds... Jim

 

[JeffK-MN]

Thanks for the great info.
But I should not have had the wife see some of them. She thinks it is nuts to use her freezer for birds and to help me throw them.
I just got some live birds and my pup is so excided with them jumping all over. It has her retreiving much better even bumpers.
How far do you start marks with birds? I have been about 50-60yards but when I try to make it more she gets off to the sides.
Thanks again for the info Jeff

 

[TN_LAB]

Water work will take its toll on them. Dry them off as much as possible before re-freezing them.

Yep

Rather than throw all your ducks into the water, consider using only a selected amount on the water work.

If you are really eager to make them last, you can blow dry them with your leaf blower before wrapping in newspaper and re-freezing.