How much to buy?

[Ryan]

Ok everybody,
I haven't seen the numbers anywhere. I want to know how many DOCs to buy for 1 month for a RT or Kbird. Also, for other food species such as rats and quail. I think that this could be useful for everyone to know. I hope to get an idea of how much food to buy until the bird is consistantly catching game.

[Falcon Boy]

what kinda weather are we talking about?

[Ryan]

For me it is about from 70 - low 90s here. At night it never gets lower than 60 til October.

[Falcon Boy]

It's really hard to say. Chicks average 1.3-1.5oz, and throughout the year i've fed between 2 and 8 chicks per day depending on the weather.

[Ryan]

Ok, thanks

[Falcon Boy]

Keep in mind my birds have usually been flying weight 30oz or less

[rt]

I would try and trap some sparrows and starlings too and feed lots of mice I feed DOC spairingly.

[Josh]

Also you could contact the local colleges around you and find out if they do research on rats or something else. make sure you tell them that you would like to have for hawk food, but its a good way to get food. also i only get the behavioral study rats. make sure to stay away from chemicaly tested rats, and the ones they use chemicals to kill.. mine are killed by CO2.

just a consideration... easy to call and would lead to free food

[Ryan]

Thanks for the tip! After reading the DOC article FB posted, to me it sounds like a good way to go until the bird is catching game. I would ask a sponsor before buying anything though!

[jfneumann57]

You also have to take into concideration the bird's activity level.