Last Edit: Mar 23, 2006 17:36:55 GMT -5 by Bridget
"Falconry is not a hobby or an amusement; it is a rage. You eat and drink it, sleep it and think it. You tremble to write of it, even in recollection. It is as King James the First remarked, an extreme stirrer up of passions." --- T.H. White
Depends on the bird and what stage in training. Of course you do not free-loft a newly trained bird. I could not freeloft my RS while i had him as he simply had to much energy, he hopped around all day and never sat still for two seconds. On the other hand, i have free lofted RT's with no problems and i prefer to freeloft.
Falcon Boy Apprentice Falconry Administrator
Ethics make the individual, not the other way around.
REALLY broad question ! I'll try anyway, as I'm no expert --- F-RT, tethered bird, to perch and glove, manning down, just sitting and standing with her, in mews, maybe a week or so, till she hops well to glove, then free in mew only, but watched closely, if all is well, not batey, and freaking out at every movement, -- for a week or so, when bird is very stable with me walking in and so forth, only then will I release her to Full free-loft in mews and flight cage (weathering). usually about three to four weeks after trapped One thing I've not done is to "feed in mew or weathering", I know some do, but I don't. bird is removed to outside perch for feedings, hops, workouts, etc.. I've seen some bad habits develop from feeding in mews, like the bird charging you as soon as you walk in! I do have an advantage as I'm home alot, to check in on bird, bird doesn't know I'm watching. Hope this helps understand what I do Wes
Maybe with the larger birds, but not with smaller ones. There is no chance of them attacking you and small raptors (namely kestrels and merlins) are preyed upon. LEARN FROM MY PAIN OF HAVING A KESTREL GET KILLED BECAUSE IT COULDN'T FLY AWAY WHEN SHE GOT ATTACKED!!! I am now very biased because of a hard lesson. Don't let it happen to you or else you will feel what did. Just my bias.
These are mearly my opinions, My sponser Tethers and thats most likely why I tether as well.
I feel that the bird is actually safer being tethered to my screen perch. It cannot fly around banging into the sides of the walls reducing injurys/broken feathers. ( for the first week or two untill the bird settles down I do not let it stay on the screen perch without supervision. )
If some family member/act of god.. opens the door to my mew my bird will not just fly off.
The idea of having to chase my bird around if he doesnt want to jump on the fist for whatever the reason isnt that appealing.
And.. if not tethered you have to worry about keeping those talons sharp.. bird flys down to the floor and stepps in its own uriates blah blah.. and imagine if it had a cut on its foot and flew to the floor! All that bacteria.. is a great way of getting bumblefoot.
I fly my birds everyday, that's where they get there excercise. Raptors have no problem standing in the same place for hours as long as they've had they're flying/excercise and you keep them from being bored. ( Great view outside.. lots of stimulus like TV )
sabre said:
Maybe with the larger birds, but not with smaller ones. There is no chance of them attacking you and small raptors (namely kestrels and merlins) are preyed upon. LEARN FROM MY PAIN OF HAVING A KESTREL GET KILLED BECAUSE IT COULDN'T FLY AWAY WHEN SHE GOT ATTACKED!!! I am now very biased because of a hard lesson. Don't let it happen to you or else you will feel what did. Just my bias.
Your sopose to have an Enclosed area that other birds/predators CANNOT fly into. If you have anything other then that your just asking for trouble.
Like Wolf said "Enclosed weathering" I too have an enclosed weathering area, pictures were posted somewhere on site. sense I posted pics, I've made more mods to my weathering, Like adding more shade cloth. I do understand it's not always possible, but leaving any bird teathered and not watched in an open yard has Dangers. wes
These are mearly my opinions, My sponser Tethers and thats most likely why I tether as well.
If some family member/act of god.. opens the door to my mew my bird will not just fly off.
The idea of having to chase my bird around if he doesnt want to jump on the fist for whatever the reason isnt that appealing.
And.. if not tethered you have to worry about keeping those talons sharp.. bird flys down to the floor and stepps in its own uriates blah blah.. and imagine if it had a cut on its foot and flew to the floor! All that bacteria.. is a great way of getting bumblefoot.
I fly my birds everyday, that's where they get there excercise. Raptors have no problem standing in the same place for hours as long as they've had they're flying/excercise and you keep them from being bored. ( Great view outside.. lots of stimulus like TV )
sabre said:
Maybe with the larger birds, but not with smaller ones. There is no chance of them attacking you and small raptors (namely kestrels and merlins) are preyed upon. LEARN FROM MY PAIN OF HAVING A KESTREL GET KILLED BECAUSE IT COULDN'T FLY AWAY WHEN SHE GOT ATTACKED!!! I am now very biased because of a hard lesson. Don't let it happen to you or else you will feel what did. Just my bias.
Your sopose to have an Enclosed area that other birds/predators CANNOT fly into. If you have anything other then that your just asking for trouble.
No, I mean something DUG UNDER my mews and got on top of the shelf in which she was perched. I put mesh wire down on the ground so they can't do that any more. Having an open mews is just plain STUIPID!!
aww...my question got really off course.. I was hoping people would just talk about Free lofting and teathering...oh well.
"Falconry is not a hobby or an amusement; it is a rage. You eat and drink it, sleep it and think it. You tremble to write of it, even in recollection. It is as King James the First remarked, an extreme stirrer up of passions." --- T.H. White