so any way the bow perch material i like to use is Loosely woven nylon rope. I use two layers, the first layer is 20 guage thickness, and i wrap it as tightly as i can over the bar and electrical tape the ends. Then i use 10-12 guage nylon rope over the 20 guage stuff but wrap it a little looser so the bird can get her feet into it a bit (not what it sounds like) , then tape the ends down. The reason i use rope over rope is so that the rope dont slide on the metal bar or twist front and back, the friction keeps it more stable.
Climate is the best indicator of the covering you use on your bow berch. The width must be adequate, and as Kyrin pointed out there are many creative ways of building that up. I use plastic astriturf... the cheap department store doormat stuff. The thickness of the plastic adds the cushioning required and the spacing allows the birds foot to be held on diferrent positions. It freezes here. In the winter, a bird could jump on the perch after bathing and let water drip on the rope. It would freeze, of course, building an ice covered surface upon which the bird must stand. You won't have that problem with astroturf. The drops of water will run to the nap of the rug and freeze there, 1/2 inch below the birds feet. This is a great trick for those of you in colder climates ADDED BONUS. It requires no build up (assuming a 5/8" bar) and can be perminently affixed to the perch with contact cement in about 15 minutes!
Last Edit: Oct 20, 2004 13:52:20 GMT -5 by Bob Dale
Post by Master Yarak on Sept 28, 2004 22:08:03 GMT -5
I have always used old garden hose. Ducted taped around the perch and then cover that with the astro turf. Yarak
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away
Post by grendlesgirl on Oct 18, 2004 10:50:32 GMT -5
I am always going to thrift stores to supplement my income via ebay as well as stuff for me, you would not believe the brand new stuff that people just get rid of. It seems that there are always neoprene suits there, the cheapest I have seen is 2 bucks, the most expensive for 10. Although this is Idaho, in california it may be more expensive. Birna has been spendng a lot of time off of the bow perch which makes me want to try a different covering so thanks for the idea!
"Optimism at all costs" Camus ~the plague
Ooby
Ancient Member Warning: 50% For Vulgaritey and Profanity
Post by grendlesgirl on Oct 20, 2004 18:42:16 GMT -5
Well if anyone does want some cheap neoprene let me know and I'll send them some from the thrift store for 5 bucks!!! Maybe I could sell them on Ebay as "Perch covering material"!!!!
You know, you probably could! You could sell it by the square foot and make a nifty little profit! I'd like to have some. I've never used it, but i'd like to try.
Post by grendlesgirl on Oct 25, 2004 20:38:13 GMT -5
Yeah I saw some for sale on Mikes for 22 bucks. The problem is that someone may get the wrong idea and take their bird out waterskiing on the creance . . . .
I think I will do that the next time I am out, list them whole jsut put in some keywords to hit the falconry market . . .
I use neoprene on my bowperch and small(transport) gaint hood. I used sisel rope on the larger gaint hood. The weathering area carpet is astroturff and the Tperch is astro. I try to keep changing the material the bird stands on a lot. The bow perch came wraped in neoprene from Mikes falconry and I had a older set of waders that I cut up for the G.H.-Zach
I used to think i knew some things. But i'm not so sure anymore.
Good ideas.. I use foam pipe insulation and sisal rope... on all my perches... you can buy the foam in the thickness you need to support your birds feet and the rope lasts all seasons...
I've got a different style of bow perch (got it from a falconry book (falconry and Hawking -- Glasier)). It seems to hold up well, never had a hawk on it though (YET!!). I'll try and get a pic up soon XD
I have been looking around, yet no luck has struck yet...
