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todd75 Inner circle 1277 Posts |
I have 2 problems with regards to using doves and ferrets in my show.
Problem #1: I decided about a month ago to get a dove and put her in my opening act. Great idea! I had her professionally clipped and all of her flight feathers removed. Here is the problem. She can still fly across a room. I had a bird lady tell me that she basically is just a very strong bird and that there was not much I could do. So I got rid of her and decided upon a ferret. Problem #2: The ferret is very excited and does not look like it is going to work at all. The thing freaks out when it is put into a production box. Since she moves so much, people are going to know that there is something in the box so it kind of kills the trick. Has anyone else had these same problems? Can anyone offer some suggestions? |
Dave Scribner Assistant Manager Lake Hopatcong, NJ 4849 Posts |
I don't use ferrets so can't help much there. As for clipping the doves flight feathers, you will have the same problem with all your doves. Clipping does not prevent flight. It just makes it a little more difficult. I personally am very much against clipping as I have mentioned many times in this forum. Nothing replaces training. I will clip the end of the tail now and then to keep it neat but that is all.
If you don't have the time and patience to properly and totally train, then dove magic is not for you.
Where the magic begins
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Hello Todd,
Welcome to world of problems that come with doing magic with animals. It often seems that there are no solutions, only new problems. Clipping feathers won't keep a dove from trying to fly. It will simply frustrate the bird and the magician. It also removes part of the reason for using doves as a load anyway. Carried to extreme, a frozen chicken may be just as effective a production as a clipped bird. Complete doves pack small and play big. The wing and tail feathers are an important part of that. Look at the feathers on the dove in my avatar. Without the feathers it is just not the same. Keep trying. I don't want you to give up, just give it more time and practice. Doves are not a deck of cards. They form a relationship with you too. They need to see you as the "safe place" because your are the "safe place". They make great stage partners when they trust you. Hunters, hunt for a living. They must be on the move discovering. The ferret may be a slow go. Heavy equipment that won't move may be your solution. Hang in there like a rusty fish hook. It takes time. Bob Magic By Sander |
todd75 Inner circle 1277 Posts |
Thanks for your reply Bob! I guess I am just frustrated because I want to add something to the show that will get attention but the flight factor scares me. What I mean is that many times I do private parties and would hate for the dove to get loose and fly off and break something valuable and then be held liable. I have been using rabbits for years and they are excellent little critters that you just can't go wrong with. I may just end up having 2 rabbits instead of one. This will eleminate my fears all together.
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Todd,
Last night our stage show (I work with my wife Lucy.) contained your nightmare. It was raining cats and dogs when we packed for the hour show so I got five birds where the walk was not muddy. That means from an 8'x8'x8' walkin cage. We seldom use those birds. True to form, the very first bird produced did fine until I put her on a perch to stay for the rest of the show. As soon as I walked to the other side of the stage, she took off for the back of the ballroom. She flew the full length of the room, circled came right back to stage and landed on the finger I offered her. It looked like training. And it is. It was not intended to be part of the show. (The audience would be hard to convince of that!) But I am the safe place. We all are guiltly of some strange behaviors away from home. Often the smart thing to do is go back to the safe place. Animals just take time. Audiences love them. Animals know if you do too! Bob Magic By Sander |
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