Does anyone know a good method for the dove to stay on the perch during an appearing dove cage production. It seems I only get lucky if the dove winds up on the perch.


taddo

Taddo: I used to have the problem when I first started using the cage. Like everything else in dove magic, it takes training. Each time you produce the cage, reach in and put the bird on the perch. You may want to try the food deprivation technique and each time you put the bird on the perch, give him a few seeds from your hand. A smooth production rather than a jerky one will also help keep the dove on the perch.

Dave is right, if you let the cage open on its own the dove should stay on the perch. And the more you work with it it will know to stay there. If you jerk the cage during production you'll most likely jerk the bird off the perch as well. Plus I think that if you "jerk" the cage open when you produce it it looks like you're doing something funny. If you just pull the cover away and let the cage open on its own with little movement is a starteling production.

sperris

How bad is it to produce a cage with the bird off the perch. Obviously if the bird is on, the more magical it is.....I agree with Dave that of course it will take some training.

taddo

I personally have never heard a bad comment about the bird not being on the perch. The audience is impressed first with the cage production and then secondly that it has a bird inside. Being on or off the perch seems to be a non-issue in my opinion.

Good, because it seems only luck for it to wind up on the perch til some more training is done. Also because it is open I am assuming the bird can stay loaded for a while longer then if in a harness???



taddo

I use a smaller bird for the cage and load it prior to my routine which is 15 minutes in length. The cage is the last effect so yes, the bird can stay in it longer.

Would any of you mind telling me which model cage you use? Also, how many different models are there on the market today?

I use the largest Harakan, Owens makes one too I think, and a company in Europe makes one as well. DON NOT BUY THE ONES MADE IN INDIA- they look a lot like the Harakan ones but are not as safe. You can tell the difference by the perch. Harakan's is white and plastic(this is the model all the pros use, ie:Joseph, Byrne, Tony, the Majestix) The ones from India have a metal perch. Harakan makes his all by hand and uses really nice materials. They are truely beautiful hand crafted props.

Sperris

I have an owens one which is also nice but slightly bigger then the harakan one.


taddo

I agree with Dan. I bought one of the Indian ones by mistake. It looks ok but is marginal in workmanship.

I glued some sandpaper on the perch of my Harakan when I did a bird years ago. Also to keep the bird on the perch, about a 1/4 turn and bump down will usually open the perch and keep the bird on. Some guys spin the thing around like a merry go round and expect the bird to stay on....DA!