Hard Sleeping RT

[Tiercel78]

Ok, so I got a question now that I wanted some input from y'all about. Well since the last hunt I have noticed this. I came home the other night late(1200pm) and wanted to check on Rugers squirrel bite and put some Bactoderm on it. I opened up the gaint hood and started to stroke him on the chest(he stayed asleep). I tapped him on the toes(still asleep).Pushed him a little off balance so he'd put his other foot down(stayed asleep). I had to kinda gently pull his head up a little to wake him up. Now, I was a little worried about his health so I checked him over. I can't find anything wrong with him so far. I checked his keel(still has good muscle). I check his eyes(still nice and round).I checked his mutes(still look healthy). I checked his leg for infection(leg is still at normal temp and wound is healing well). Checked his breath(normal). Wife last night(Tues) put him up while I was at work. Wife got home around 8pm(been dark for about 1 1/2 hours). She said, he was preatty sleepy when she put him up. It took him till this morning(Wed) to put over his casting from the hunt on Sunday(don't know if that had anything to do with it) Now, during the day he acts fine, alert eager to be outside. He also flys strong and does 8ft hop ups just fine. I'm just wondering if thats just normal for him or he is just that comfortable. I have talked to the sponser and a friend and they don't seem to worried. Has anyone every had a bird that has done this? I have just never ran into this behavior before. -Zach

[Tiercel78]

Well,
I decided to call a Raptor vet(DVM. Melissa Hill) today back in Texas the dealt with almost all of the birds that came through Last Chance Foever(the bird or prey center I worked at). I was wanting to know if she ever seen that behavior before. I told her everything that I posted earlier. She told me that she has and not to worry about it. So, I was worried for nothing ...Well, guess it better than ignorance. I feal better that I asked. I assumed that he was fine but wanted a second opinion. -Zach

[Master Yarak]

Sorry I missed this thread. It has to do with sleeping in the giant hood. I the mews it will be different. No Worries!
Yarak

[Weasel]

My first bird used to do the same thing....She would tuck her head under a wing and she was off in lala land.....kinda weird

[grendlesgirl]

I saw a person here with a tiercel prarie falcon who at a meet slept with dogs barking and running around it and even through the portable perch it was on being picked up and moved into the truck. For people during REM sleep they will not wake, even for alarms or phones, could it be that brids have something similar?

[RobDeegan]

HaHa! I've got a similar post elsewhere on the forum where I describe my RTH's "mews coma". Once I finally got him awake he flew well to the fist so I decided that all was well. I'm just speculating but assume that there is no benefit to a RTH for being alert at night. AFAIK they are virtually blind at night so their best defense aginst GHOs etc is probably just to stay absolutely still even if a predator is right beside them.

[morganf]

Rob - that makes sense, so does the whole REM sleep thing. If we do it, i'm sure they do it too. remember humans are animals too. but i can just imagine how cute it would be to watch once you know there is nothing to worry about... gives you a chance to cuddle lol j/k