kestrels and hoods

[rubish]

hey all I just wanted to get some of you older falconers thoughts on hoods. I have a kbird and I have been hooding her, but at the same time imo I think it has been hurting the manning process. I have read good reasons to hood and good reasons not to.... So I am hoping to open a conversation for pros and cons please and thanks in advance ;D

[SkyRider]

This discussion has come up several times on this forum (I think I even asked the same question here not too long ago.) As for hooding a kestrel, what you'll probably hear from most people is that you don't need to. Kestrels tend to man down quickly and stay a little more relaxed than some of the other species. However, hooding is a great skill for you to learn as a falconer. Not to mention there may come a time when you desperately wish you had hood trained your bird.

What it will really come down to is your decision and that or your sponsor. I would recommend hooding for the experience. I wouldn't recommend hooding for extended periods of time though. For that, you should have a giant hood. Also, make sure you have a super light hood. When I say super light, a couple grams at most. Kestrels are tiny birds. Their heads can only hold so much safely and comfortably.

[Falcon Boy]

If I have the opportunity, I always utilize a hood. The issue is a) you need a great fitting hood and b) you have to be good at hooding birds. Also, I think it is very helpful to start hooding from day 1. This is compounded with kestrels, as they need a hood that is literally only 2-3, MAYBE 4 grams at the most. VERY few hood makers can do that.

Poor hooding technique, a poorly fitting hood, or a hood which is too heavy can very quickly spoil a relationship with the bird.

[rubish]

good points atm the only reason I would hood her is when I am sleeping or at work. The reason for this is bating alot atm, and I don't want any leg damage done while I am not there ready to prevent it

[MarkT]

I will never tell anyone having a bird hood trained is a bad thing. That being said, I have never used a hood on a kestrel and have never been in a situation with a kestrel that I had wished it was hood trained. My feeling is if you have a good hood (fit and weight) and the bird accepts it, great. If not, I wouldn't spend too much time trying to force the bird to accept it.

[SkyRider]

Unless you're sleeping during the day, she shouldn't be bating. She should be asleep. Also, if you've had her for as long as I'm remembering you having her, her bating should be at a minimum now. My kestrel quit bating (more or less) within the first four or five days. There may be something in her surroundings that is causing enough irritation to cause her to continue to bate. Or you may just need to spend some more time manning and getting her comfortable with you and her new world.

[Falcon Boy]

Sept 14, 2012 15:09:35 GMT -5 SkyRider said:

Unless you're sleeping during the day, she shouldn't be bating. She should be asleep. Also, if you've had her for as long as I'm remembering you having her, her bating should be at a minimum now. My kestrel quit bating (more or less) within the first four or five days. There may be something in her surroundings that is causing enough irritation to cause her to continue to bate. Or you may just need to spend some more time manning and getting her comfortable with you and her new world.

Agreed. Something is wrong if she's bating that much a month in. It could be anything from her perch set-up (too low to the ground? can she see a window with stuff outside?) to not enough manning to a weigh issue or some combo of the three. A month in with a bird trapped that early in the year she should be free flying at the least.

Have you consulted your sponsor? That should be the first step when issues like this arise.

[rubish]

well my sponsor says she is a hag and they are alot harder to get not to bate I dunno what that means. As for the hood thing I work at night so I sleep during the day while I am at work she sleeps I think anyway. Her perch is a wall perch about 5 feet off the ground, but is next to a window that I have blacked out so she can not see through, but she does LOVE to bate I am not sure exactly why. The perch she is on is a pvc perch with grass wrapped around it. Even when she is on the floor though she still bates unless she is just fed. As for free flight atm she is not even close today she flew about 120 feet 2 times to me but won't do jack sh ???t with a lure, just doesn't like it lol as far as the weight that I am not sure I am still new so I can only assume via response times she is where she needs to be any ideas thanks in advance