Hello,all I was wondering what frozen food raptors can live off of from day to day. things like beef heart,chicken livers, ect. The reason i ask is because Buying frozen quail,mice ect. Is too expensive due mainly to shiiping costs.And i can get the frozen goods mentoined above at a very in-expensive price,and i can buy them in large quantitys from my local store.
Post by dirthawker on Apr 22, 2008 20:03:12 GMT -5
buy rats from the feed store. go out and shoot some squirrels rabbits and what ever else is legal in your state. I am not one for using the store bought stuff like beef heart and what ever from the store one because it isn't a natural food for the bird 2 its harder for the bird to digest, the steroids that go into the beef chicken ECT., 3 and for you to feed off its a real rich diet. I go out every year and shoot 30 or so jack rabbits just to feed birds take them home cut them in half bag them, and freeze them. why do I do this because I like to hunt rabbits and it makes it easier to feed the bird.
now as for shooting the game I only shoot for the head and make sure that I cut off any parts that are even remotely close to the wound channel. that way I dont lead poison my bird
Last Edit: Apr 22, 2008 20:07:04 GMT -5 by dirthawker
Enough live mice to feed a raptor would be costly would it not? I understand what your saying about their diets,and Im not allowed to shoot within my area,If i could hunt for the food i Would.The local store Butchers there own food and i dont have any reason to believe additives are in any of their products, although i may be wrong.
On average how often would you feed a redtailed hawk mice?
Post by crbhawking on Apr 22, 2008 21:09:30 GMT -5
you can feed mice every day. mice go for .30 cents each about and end up being about $50 for the first bird to start then if you fill the freezer you don't have to by anymore animals.
" Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH" -Patrick Henry
Post by borderhawk on Apr 22, 2008 22:36:58 GMT -5
Any responsible falconer feeds their bird "whole carcass" diet, because they know that even with VitaHawk things like beefheart and chicken are going to be nutritionally insuffiently in the long run. It would be ok as a supplement to a proper diet, like alternating rats, rabbits, and beef heart. Would you not be able to breed your own? One female rat can produce an average litter size of 8-12 young every month. Theres the initial investment of the cage, then rat food and bedding every once in a while. And you could control what their eating and so be in control of quality. As long as you have good fields and hunt your bird, you should only have to order food once for the initial manning period. There used to be a rehabber/falconer in Texas that could catch enough jackrabbits during the winter to feed her hawk and all the other raptors at the center for the rest of the summer! And if you can't catch enough to last the molt for some reason, you still only have to order food once a year until your hunting again. If your bird is on a diet of purchased food all year long, you're doing something wrong.
What quantity of mice should be fed daily? If you feed the raptor to often wouldnt it be over flying weight?(of course its better than being under Weight)
Any responsible falconer feeds their bird "whole carcass" diet, because they know that even with VitaHawk things like beefheart and chicken are going to be nutritionally insuffiently in the long run. It would be ok as a supplement to a proper diet, like alternating rats, rabbits, and beef heart. Would you not be able to breed your own? One female rat can produce an average litter size of 8-12 young every month. Theres the initial investment of the cage, then rat food and bedding every once in a while. And you could control what their eating and so be in control of quality. As long as you have good fields and hunt your bird, you should only have to order food once for the initial manning period. There used to be a rehabber/falconer in Texas that could catch enough jackrabbits during the winter to feed her hawk and all the other raptors at the center for the rest of the summer! And if you can't catch enough to last the molt for some reason, you still only have to order food once a year until your hunting again. If your bird is on a diet of purchased food all year long, you're doing something wrong.
I can supply i cage easily My concern is that the young will not be of good eating size within the feeding alotment,hmmm maybe feed the adults the young grow and breed and cycle it like that?
So your saying breed now and freeze? What sizes should a redtail be fed?
In the wild, hawks eat seven to ten adult micea day. That's what you'll feed to maintain one hawk. Remember, you have to feed the mice properly so your bird remains healthy - which means buying rodent pellets.
Post by dirthawker on Apr 23, 2008 13:14:29 GMT -5
a good round about for consumption at hunting weight for a RT is 90 to 100 grams of actual food (this means meat bone and fur) no guts. early training and weight reduction will be less. now for a first year bird I make sure I have 6 months worth of food to be on the safe side. a second year bird should be doing well and supplying its self food for the whole year. for your first bird you may get a good one and not make mistakes but plan for the crap bird that doesn't catch anything (better to be safe than sorry)
Post by dirthawker on Apr 23, 2008 13:57:32 GMT -5
I would split it up with other things than rats but it depends on the size of the rats. basically gut one of the rats and weigh the carcass and that will give you the # you need. all I do is take out the lower guts and leave the heart lungs and liver.
my first RT ate 96 grams to sustain, the second ate 106 grams and the third ate 72 grams but that was a male. for the most part a RT at hunting weight will eat 10% of its body weight a day. but all birds are different some eat more some eat less