Wedding Wings - F.A.Q

1. Will the birds get home?
2. How do you train them?
3. Do you ever lose them?
4. Do they fly at night, in the rain or in the fog?
5. How do they know how to get home?
6. Do they mess on you?
7. Are they noisy?
8. How much do they cost?
9. How much notice do I need?
10. How do I pay?
11. What’s the furthest they have flown?
12. Do you fly out of Auckland?
13. Will the crowd frighten them?
14. Have you got anything we can put in our vows before the doves are released?
15. Do they bite?
 

1. Will the birds get home?

I get asked this question all the time, I find people are really caring and this is important to them. To reassure you, the Bird Barn and Bird Rescue highly recommend me. I have spent many years breeding the right birds. You cannot use any doves – that would be cruel. My birds are solid muscle and bred for long distance. There are also many, many hours that go into training them.

 

2. How do you train them?

First of all, you have to wait till the right age. Then I take them 100 meters down the road. After that, I take them further and further away in every direction – north, south, east and west!

 

3. Do you ever lose them?

To date, I have lost none. I do everything within my power to ensure this. My birds are registered when they are born, and I put a metal ring on their feet with a new number. If they do happen to get lost, they are easily traced back to me through the Pigeon Club. I always make sure someone is at home when I take them out. They are trained to go into small traps (holes) so cats can’t get to them. Inside they have a clean loft, with food and water.

 

4. Do they fly at night, or in the rain or fog?

No.

 

5. How do they know how to get home?

There are a lot of theories about how they home. Nobody really seems to know. When they are released, they circle to get their bearings – and they have extremely good eyesight.

 

6. Do they mess on you?

To do their business, the birds have to be standing on their two feet. Therefore, they will not mess when in flight. Also, if you would like to hold them, I will teach you – this is a lovely idea for photos, and I strongly encourage this. You hold their feet back so it is impossible for them to mess. Some couples enjoy letting them go from their baskets.

 

7. Are they noisy?

When I first put them in their basket they are, but they quickly settle and then are quiet.

 

8. How much do they cost?

Please contact Brenda or Lisette for further information.

 

9. How much notice do I need?

Two weeks is usually enough.

 

10. How do I pay?

Most people pay over the net now, so there is no need for cash to change hands on the big day. I do accept cheques and cash, but I am not set up for Visa or Eftpos. If change of weather forces cancellation, a full refund is given.

 

11. What is the furthest they have flown?

Some of my birds have flown from Christchurch to Auckland, and this took nine hours.

 

12. Do you fly out of Auckland?

Yes. My birds fly from Cambridge to Whangarei.

 

13. Will the crowd frighten them?

I live directly behind a school, and I make sure to let them out, so they are used to crowd.

 

14. Have you got anything we can put in our vows before the doves are released?

We have about seven different poems, to choose from, to give to the Celebrant if you wish.

 

15. Do they bite?

No – they don't have teeth, and they do not peck. These birds are used to being handled.