Flying birds and Swift managment
The contents of this letter is from e-mail I received in the past and reflecting an interest in the conventional flying Swifts. As a reminder they are about 2 inches (5 cm) shorter the the typical show bird and compacted type of bird. They are capable of maintaining 2 to 3 hours in an optimum climate of 10 to 20 Celsius or centigrade (40 to 70 Fahrenheit). This includes the following groups: Bolks with the exception of the Banafsigy. Mesaweds, Otatis, Anbary Asmar. Safis and Ahmar gohzar families produce good flying birds as well but need more scrutiny. Rehanis are released to join the first kit about half an hour before landing or flown alone on their own pace. They are limited from half to one hour of flying time.
Selecting flying birds:
Selecting flying birds must begin from mating known flying parents. The problem that many of us tend to do, is selecting mating birds by appearance and forsaking to verify their flying. The Egyptian system doesn't test young hens as they become segregated early from the flying kit and before they become thoroughly tested.
Culling birds should start with slow growing and weak feathered birds at 4 weeks. Weak feathers are feathers that don't fulminate as the bird grow.
Settling mating birds:
Many flying Swifts are naturally agitated and restless birds. If you intend to breed around January from a new pair, then you must mate them around November. They tend to loose their first clutch of eggs or checks at the beginning of the season. Remember that this breed is noted for their rich colors and regal appearance and not as a meat producing bird. It is a good season when three to four healthy checks are raised from one pair. If half of them fly as intended to, the pair will be mated for life.
The more refined the birds (as in good show birds with smaller and finer beaks) the more difficult they raise their young's. Bolks, Mesaweds, Reds, Otati and Safi show inclined and Hawk-like beaks. While Rehani and Bolk Banafsigy show a characteristic obtuse angle and grain-like beaks. I have used a picture of a female rehani (note also the shadow of it's beak) and an old Safi for my demonstration. This unusual setting makes it hard for a bird to raise his offspring and foster parents must be used.
Flying birds tend to raise their two young's, because they are stronger and have less shorter beaks. One might say; why then should I devote time to a weaker bird or a bird that have difficulty raising his young's? simply because it wins the show.
Should we select for more devoted parents or other traits ? As long as standards aren't going to be compromised, then it is considered of an improvment to the breed. In that case you will find that you need to cull more, which will improve the overall quality of the stock.
Before we leave these two pictures and go on, I would like you to also note from the standards point the complete sweep of the head and beak on the Safi. Also note the prominant elevated forehead (opposite of the Safi) on the Rehany.