Not sure where to put this so if it needs moved go for it. Question has anyone everchange the color of their glove and had their bird check off the new glove. I just got a new glove and Marry checked off. I moved to just jumps until she becomes accustom to it. This is more a heads up for anyone intermewing their birds.
YES! I did this with my second bird. I had a black glove that my first bird had torn up pretty well and I used it for the first few weeks while training my new bird. I then bought a custom fit glove from Traditions Gloves and it was a light tan and brown leather. She absolutly refused to land on the glove. At first she would try to land on my head and then my shoulder or on my arm at the end of the gauntlet. I'd say it took a good 3-4 days to get her to accept the new glove. I don't know if this is common or if it was just the fact that she was new to everything.
Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines "Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day; give him a religion................ and he'll starve to death while praying for a fish."
I've done some reading and it sounds pretty common Nick Foxs tells of a hh that he had received that would only come to a black glove.I don't remember how long it took for him to brake the bird of it but was something I thought took years of conditioning to set a bird to a partictular glove though i could see the advantage of such a habit if you were flighing in casts all the time.
Post by USAvalanche on May 13, 2004 0:54:08 GMT -5
Everybody speaks of saving money and buying a "welding glove", is this the type or is there something specific that I need to look for for my first RT.
Last Edit: May 13, 2004 0:55:09 GMT -5 by USAvalanche
"But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world... You become responsible, Forever, for what you have tamed." - Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Yes you could go with a welding glove but why drive a vw when you can drive a Rolls Royce ;D Saving money and falconry hardly fit in the same sentence. Once you train a bird to a glove it is difficult to change to another glove as I have read quite a few times. How long do you plan to fly a redtail? A redtail has a life span of about 20 years in captivity. I myself like the look of a quality gauntlet and since I will keep a redtail for the two years required by law, lord willing. I will then hack it back to the wild. Then as a general I will finaly get my native Harris hawk subspecies Mexicanus and they also have about a 20 year lifespan. A welding glove just would not give me the pleasure a finely crafted gauntlet does. In a pinch to get started you could use the welding glove if you intend to change birds in two years anyway.
Are you suggesting to switch from the 10 dollar welding glove to the 70+ dollar falconry gauntlet every other day. I really don't see the point. Very few raptors have a sense of smell. None of the birds of falconry have a sense of smell.
My son got me a beautiful glove for christmas. It came from Northwwods and it cost way more than i would have spent on myself... but i have to admit, i love it! I have heard people say that the quality of your equipment reflects your respect for your bird (I think even Webster, or Beebe said that in one of their writings). In a way, i agree. Consider, however, that your apprentice period is a time for "testing the waters" so to speak, as well as an intro to training, hunting and all that goes with falconry. Many ppl drop out after six months of this. They find that the time demands, and other things, don't fit their lifestyle or whatever. It would be a shame to have an expensive glove, bag, box etc laying around doing nothing. My welding gloves cost me 6-7 bucks, and they do the job. Besides, if you wait long enough, some one will give you a glove for christmas!! ;D
Are you suggesting to switch from the 10 dollar welding glove to the 70+ dollar falconry gauntlet every other day. I really don't see the point.
The point is your RT wouldnt be as nervous about new things. Also, instead of having a 10 $ welding glove ripped to shreads when you went to a demo. You would have a nice looking Falconer's glove.
Very few raptors have a sense of smell. None of the birds of falconry have a sense of smell
I know... I meant as in you being smelly because of wearing the same clothes all the time
Ya know Alex this might be a new innovation. Please let everyone know how your bird responds to switching gloves every day. I buy and rotate two pair of Hi Tech boots at a time. One pair dry and air out while I wear the other pair. I get much longer service life overall for both pair of boots. In other words I can wear out one pair in four months of continuous wear or it takes me just over one year to wear out two pair. I think it would be a lot to ask for a bird to get used to two different gloves with color or shape changes. I do think that if you bought two identicle gloves that might work better. Time and testing will tell.
If I have three hours till dark after work I will have had the hawk equipment loaded the night before. I will change out of the uniform into hawking vest and hunting clothes, Load the bird in the giant hood and to heck with the calogne and deoderant. "I'm goin huntin" ;D jim
Some birds will freak out if you change the smallest of items. My bird look at me with a horror in her eyes when I put on sunglasses. I was told this looks like big predator eyes to them. Wearing similar types of clothes will help the bird to be steady in the field. I always wear blue jeans, chaps, a ball cap, and my hunting vest. You can see the reaction in my bird when she see's me put on the vest, she starts her screaming and won't shut up till she's in the woods. It's not to bad with the steady RT but it can effect the more high strung birds from what I hear.
Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines "Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day; give him a religion................ and he'll starve to death while praying for a fish."
Post by USAvalanche on May 13, 2004 14:52:34 GMT -5
I was just curious to know if those were the kind of gloves people meant by "welding glove". In this forum, and many others online, and also in books, there are countless mentions of using welding gloves because of their durability and cost.
If I had a choice to drive a VW or a Rolls, yeah I would probably DRIVE the Rolls. But if I am also trying to build a mansion(mews) that will last a LONG time, I think I want to save on something that is going to receive a lot of wear and tear and need replaced anyway, and put the money into the mews.
I have also read many mentions in this forum of people saving money buy doing this or that; making their own equipment mostly.
""Saving money and falconry hardly fit in the same sentence."" ?
By buying a welding, or whatever kind of glove and making it the way I want it, I think I can become that much more involved in falconry. I am looking forward to the making of my jesses, hoods, mews, anything to make it MINE.
I mean NO disrespect, I AM the newbie. I understand I must be financially prepared to support my falconry interest. I don't mind spending money, but I want to spend it where it does the most good. I don't know anybody who doesn't try to save money when they can. Especially with today’s market.
Last Edit: May 13, 2004 14:58:22 GMT -5 by USAvalanche
"But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world... You become responsible, Forever, for what you have tamed." - Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Yup, There is no arguement there! ;D I know many falconers that are not very well off and they manage just fine with their falconry endevours. It's all how YOU want to do things. Falconers will be the first ones to point thing wrong in training and methods as we are incredibly nosey when it comes to proving ones point. You will also notice how cliqueish falconry can be. I have seen some of the best falconers using the simpleist equipment and the worst falconers using the best equipment and ya know what? Nobody cares about that. Just don't mistreat a bird or they'll be on ya like a starved toy poodle on a pork chop ;D Bottom line is: as long as the bird is safe, healthy and flown regularly.....All is good. When it becomes a chore to do falconry then it's time to turn the bird loose as we will develop bad habits towards the bird once it's not fun anymore. Sorry bout the rant.....Use any glove that you feel comfortable with...(as long as a fresh caught RT won't puncture it) ;D
Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines "Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day; give him a religion................ and he'll starve to death while praying for a fish."
Post by USAvalanche on May 13, 2004 15:36:57 GMT -5
Yep; healthy, happy bird- that is my main concern.
"But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world... You become responsible, Forever, for what you have tamed." - Antoine de Saint-Exupery