I have a chloroplast box... dont have pics but built it at same time with toby. so his website has some info: Harris Hawk Box
I dont know about bending the corners for all sides, but my box has joints that are bent. They go over the corners and give it structure plus allow you to attach it the pieces together.
Mine is a little wider than his but then again I dont have 3 Harris's to deal with. A nice wood box is very nice, but the chloroplast has some advantages in the summer in terms of cooling, unless you do like noel
The major Plus I like about it is it is lightweight. This is a factor if you take it in and out of the vehicle alot. If you just leave the box in the back of the truck all season a wood one will do you nicely. Some people keep the bird in it at night inside, which does make weight control easier (constant temp) so a light box helps for this situation (unless you have 2 boxes...)
I'll get pics up after Finals (read tomorrow), unless I get sidetracked, which may very well happen. ;D
I have been on this site before and I Would pick his design over the others simply because of his use of the 10mm coroplast instead of the 3-4mm type. Much sturdier.
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."
Hmm, My impression was that the purpose of a giant hood was to keep the bird in the dark to keep it calm. Have you kept birds in this box before? Does it seem to do a good job?
Hmm, My impression was that the purpose of a giant hood was to keep the bird in the dark to keep it calm. Have you kept birds in this box before? Does it seem to do a good job?
For me the pupose is to transport them. While the box does let in light it still encloses them (they can't see anything, only diffuse light). For some birds this would not be the best option. You could build a light baffle for all the vents (easy to do some are already that way) and paint the box black, then whatever paint color you wanted. I have found this to be not necessary for me and my birds. I don't recommend just throwing the bird in there, slamming the door shut, and taking off. But if you introduce the bird to it over time, tidbit etc. they do just fine.
I have kept 3 birds in this one and 1 in a wooden box. I really like the lightness, ease of cleaning, and ventilation (limited heat build up) of this box. I think it does a great job. It is easy to modify to add things you want such as clips and such. And because the box is plastic and not wood (plus the joints are siliconed) it is very easy to pressure wash/ hose it out... Which can be important if you keep the bird in it every night. Overall I love how light weight it is. All that being said- I still would love a nice cherry wood box... but for now I have a nice functional box that should last for awhile.
Post by AquilaGold on Sept 20, 2004 11:51:46 GMT -5
Love some of these Giant Hood ideas. While they aren't as fancy and purty-lookin'......dog kennels do work nicely. I transport every bird I work with, from the kestrel to the Golden, in a Vari-Kennel. All have astro-covered perches inside with the exception of the Eagle's kennel...he stands on an astro carpet (he's never in there very long at a time). All the birds hop right in and settle down nicely. I cut peg board to cover the front grill door......and put burlap (sewn around the edges to make a nice neat presentation) over the side "window grills" If you double the burlap, it barely lets in any light. (it's mounted with velcro to the outside of the kennel for easy replacement and to avoid bird-shredding) Since I often fly places with the birds, they are great for shipping the birds, too. While we're on the subject of flying....has anyone ever flown with a kestrel? Could they be considered small enough in their giant hood to fit under the seat? Just wonderin'.
This link has detailed plans for a giant hood. www.americanfalconry.com/HawkinGear2.html I built one double already and i'm having two single built. They are suprizingly inexpensive and they look nice. Coroplast is $18.00 a sheet here. The wood hoods i built didn't cost very much more than that.
Post by Falcon Boy on Oct 11, 2004 23:04:26 GMT -5
I just completed my new giant hood, which should last for years to come. Its made out of luan [sp?] boards, using the demensions off that link Bob gave, though slightly altered... I made it a tad deeper and taller, as well as wider. the base is 2x4's, then there is a piece of the luan, then it has a 1x2 frame, and luan boards as the sides. Ill see if i can get a picture of it, its hard to explain. I also put 3 coats of polyurathane on it to help protect from water or mutes.
Falcon Boy Apprentice Falconry Administrator
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Post by Falcon Boy on Oct 11, 2004 23:09:34 GMT -5
Actually it weighs suprisingly little. The luan board is about a 1/4 of an inch thick, if even, and the 1x2 frame kept the weight down. The only heavy part is the 2x4s. Granted, it weighs more than a coroplast box, but it is very light for a wood one.
Falcon Boy Apprentice Falconry Administrator
Ethics make the individual, not the other way around.