Tombaku

[Kickingbird]

I must have missed the second page of the phoenix forum when I deleted it

We had a discussion started about tombaku, restrictive housing for growing tails out to their full extent. I just recived permission to post some pics of one someone on another forum built. My pic hosting site is down right now but I'll see what I can do. I'm planning on building one or two of these this year and putting a few cocks in them to see how good they realy are.













Mark

[IndianaGardener]

Here's a pic of the one I made. That is Matsu in it. I know the tombaku raises some concerns among some people who feel it's cruel. Really, you have to get into a bird's mindset to understand it. A bird views a small space as security and a place to hide from predators. It's a type of sanctuary.
Matsu loves his tombaku. He gets daily walks and upon returning to his room, I have to keep the doors shut on his tombaku until he is close. Otherwise, he'll actually try to fly back into it and hit the other side and could hurt himself. Chickens (especially bantams) can fly, but their breaks aren't so good.LOL
His tombaku is about 6 ft tall, 10" or 12" deep (don't remember for sure), and about 2 ft wide. It would have to be bigger for largefowl of course. It has a pull out dropping tray on slide rails, food and water tray for the dishes, a 1" x 4" perch, a window, and a silk ribbon to hold back his tail.

Bye for now,

[Kickingbird]

Indy,

Thank you for the picture. Do you find that your rooster tends to turn around? If so how did/do you address this. I want to be able to see my bird in the Tombaku but have heard that if they have light in the enclosure one can have problems with them turning around.

As for the cruelity issue....it is a non-issue here. A tombaku keeps the bird safe from preditors and gives the owner a chance to monitor the health, feed intake, and droppings of a bird on a daily basis. It is actualy much better than an outside pen as far as welfare goes.

Thanks again, keep us updated on the progress of your birds.

Mark

[IndianaGardener]

>Thank you for the picture.>
Very welcome.

> Do you find that your rooster tends to turn around?>
Used to try to. Not lately.

>If so how did/do you address this.>
1/2" dowel bars spaced wide enough for his shoulders to be between and enough room for him to puff up his feathers if chilly, but no excess room other than for that.


>I want to be able to see my bird in the Tombaku but have heard that if they have light in the enclosure one can have problems with them turning around.>
They need light, or they won't eat and drink, only sleep all the time. The Japanese put a window in the end to the front of the perch, and so did I. The Dec 1970 National Geographic issue has a pic of a bird in a tombaku with glass doors for the tail and bird, but wood for the dropping tray. I guess they figure, who wants to see that?LOL

>As for the cruelity issue....it is a non-issue here. A tombaku keeps the bird safe from preditors and gives the owner a chance to monitor the health, feed intake, and droppings of a bird on a daily basis. It is actualy much better than an outside pen as far as welfare goes.>
I have the same opinion, but didn't know about lurkers here. I have encountered people other places who feel otherwise. I just explain it as being no different than having a cage bird such as a parrot, etc. The proto and pure Onagadori roos need to be thought of as cage birds, not barn-yard fowl. Explaining it that way usually eases their minds.
Bye for now,

[Kickingbird]

About the light, I forgot to mention that I was refering to the rear of the cage. The tombaku pictured above is designed to make the rear half of the enclosure dark so the bird won't turn around.

Mark

[IndianaGardener]

Oh, yes. My tombaku is dark in the back too. In that pic, 2 of the 3 doors are open though. You can kind of see them off to the sides of the box.
Bye for now,

[PAG]

I have seen these and wire stall holders too. I think this would be for just a few birds or is there plans out there for stall types multi tombakus for larger flocks? Or does the wire stall work best.The wire stall looks like a pasta fork that holds the bird and the dishes above and is moved to where you want it. Some birds do just love being caged I have a line of golden champines that are happiest in a holding cage not the long runs. The longtails being hand raised forever would not mind the
stalls or the tombaku. But I know some people I would never show them that!

[Kickingbird]

Actualy these are built to house only one bird. That way the bird is at ease and is comfortable in "his" own house. I also keep roosters in hanging cages to protect their feathers from being damaged, however I like keeping them on tie cords better (like game fowl are kept) as it gives them more room to exersise but still keeps their feathers in perfect condition.

Mark