I think this might need to go under health but I was unsure. As some know already on Sunday I caught my bird lying on her A-frame hutch. I took off the top perch so that the surface was larger and allowed for her to have a surface that was wider...she eats all of her food here now, plucks the quial I give her on this perch. It is covered in the plastic, thick daisy mat type of covering.
Last Sunday, as I said, she was lying on the A-frame with her wings out....as soon as I walked into her mews she stood and acted as if nothing were wrong...it was about 97 degrees outside. This morning at 6:30 I went outside to check up on her and there she was again, lying on her A-frame hutch. I know she was not there for long because I had been out at 6 to give her some fresh water and she was sitting on her bow perch next to the water dish. I grabbed the camera, took two pictures before she stood up. I called my sponsor and he asked my about her health...if she was eating normally, if her mutes were normal, if she was casting and I answered yes to all....so here is my question...is this normal do you think?
I will post some pictures late this evening after I am done with my college course but wanted to see what other people thought...thanks in advance!
At 6:30 was the location the bird was laying in the sun? If not I would find it odd. I don't see my RT laying down often but my harris does lay in the sun quite a bit.
Well her mew is mostly shaded on the inside, she was lying on the west side of the mews, the sun rises from the east, but this is the area where the shade cloth is located and therefore provides more light on that side.....I will see how she does this coming days....I will place her outside on her bow perch if she is wanting more light...strange thing is her wings were not fanned out nor was her tail, it was like she was sitting on a clutch of eggs or something....
In the early mornings, I have caught my hen lying down but always where there is a nice warm patch of sunlight hitting the floor. Sometimes she will have her wings out and sometimes not.
Ikus, thanks for that imput. I did notice that the area where she was lying was rather warm, the light does not really hit it directly but when the sun rises from the east and comes over the garage that area always has sunlight hitting the area. She was acting normal other than lying down, she cocked her head to the side and peeped at me as if wanting food (not a good thing I know). I got the camera, took two pictures before she stood and gave me this rather annoying look...lol...I just assume that some birds do this and others do not...thanks for the input Ikus and others.....I once saw a pic on here someplace of a red-tail lying on the grass....I only assume she is trying to "relax"....
Post by forestfalcon on Jun 24, 2009 11:29:28 GMT -5
As I mentioned before, several of the ed. birds I worked with would do it... some would not. The ones that did, you would see them do it quite frequently during the summer months. Some would also lay down with their wings spread. I called them road kill chickens.
"We promised the world we'd tame it, what were we hoping for?" -Bloc Party
Forest Falcon...road kill chickens huh?.... well thank god my gal' is not that...I just think that with me taking off the round perch on her A-frame and providing her with a flat surface where she can "relax" is allowing her to do it...I dont mind...as long as she is fine and healthly.....thanks all for the replies...
I've caught Charm laying a couple times now on her favorite shelf perch. Everytime I come into the chamber, she sits right back up too.
"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
Post by harrishawker on Oct 20, 2009 21:53:04 GMT -5
I would not worry about it. Just resting. I had a HH once that would have a bath and then instead of spreadits wings to dry mantled on the ground with legs folded.
Very amusing ;D
In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future.
Yeah I've come to realize that this was how Autumn would relax on a hot day inside of her mews during the molt. She had her legs folded under her, and would watch the world pass by. Its fun to watch, and she would always tilt her head to the side as if trying to see me from a different persepctive...but now that we're hunting again all those little moments are gone and she's once again focused on killing....