Hi everyone, At the moment I am corresponding with someone in Poland who has a kestrel. To cut a long story short, he is stuck with it and didn't want it in the first place. The main concern that I have with the bird, in the short term, is that the only food he has for it is chicken heart and beef.
Obviously no casting. He says he can get a couple DOCs a year, perhaps...not really good enough. The kestrel's had no casting for about a year now. I was wondering - someone told me today that they used coton wool as casting for a little owl that they raised. I don't think this would work, but has anyone got any ideas of anything that can be used as casting?
No mice in Poland ? I have used shed dog fur mixed with meat for perfectly shaped castings. REMEMBER! A casting not only consists of fur and of feathers, but also of partly digested bone, etc. Very important to include these in diet. If all else fails, tell your friend to take a small section of chicken neck and crush the bones with a hammer. Wrap it with fur combed from a dog and it might pass for a while nutritionally.
I would really set traps for mice of some kind. Solve several problems at once.
Post by Master Yarak on Sept 30, 2006 17:56:27 GMT -5
Tell him to trap small songbirds. 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 Master Yarak on Sept 30, 2006 18:56:43 GMT -5
He is in POLAND....as far as I know there is no Migratory Bird Treaty Act in POLAND. I have NO idea what is legal in POLAND. I DO know if he wants to give the bird the best diet he needs to feed it whole carcass birds. Yarak
Last Edit: Sept 30, 2006 18:58:43 GMT -5 by Master 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
Thanks guys, that would have been really useful. This morning, though, the kestrel escaped. So problem over! I hope it has an idea of where it's going. Having said that it probably won't survive the winter...
Never mind. I tried. Man I wish I could have gone over there...just to see if I could help...but I suppose it's not the first time a bird has escaped.