Short version of the story ------ let out some pen raised birds for my dog to work --- they flew off ---------- about 400 yds across a fence --- is there some trick to keep this from happening ?? I"ve never used pen raised birds before.

Get or make a recall pen. Keep some in the pen with a recall door they can walk back in the pen with out getting back out.

You can spin their head and plant them.

This method works for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qjy_E2wdXNQ&ab_channel=StandingStoneKennels

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyzaBKL5nRU&ab_channel=UncleBuds

Thanks for the tips guys.

All good advice. Use them one at a time and put a ribbon in them if they are not yet trained for recall.

Dizzy them first.

If I’m going to be running the dog on them right after planting, I put them to sleep.
If they are still sound asleep when your flushing, use the toe of your boot kind of like kicking a football. Just not as hard.
If it’s going to be a little later, I slightly dizzy them, and toss them into heavy cover.

I'm glad there strong flyers.
Build you a call back cage.

All good advice,,,, thanks to all.

Quail? Recall pen is the way to go but you need to keep it stationary and the birds need to live in it for around a week before their first release.

Pigeon? They either need to be homers or you have to tie some weight or cardboard to their legs.

A recall pen is the way to go.


I never spin them when I let them out.
I want them to move around. I want the dog to use her abilities to find them.