i think it is: Can you breed starlings for hawk food?
to anwser this you can simply go to the local mall and look at the birds sitting on top of the cars and you'll find that this is completely unreasonable since you would spend too much money where the easiest solution would be traps. you simply set them and pull in a couple a day rather than 10 a month out of a breeding facility which costs beyond what you would want to pay and 20 breeding pairs. you would also have 2 coopers hawks sitting on the facility during the day and 2 owls at night. in all this is not reasonable and the costs of the facility would not be worth it plus the facility would likely not support a hawk. The simple solution is finding somewhere to set a trap that won't take from your hunting population.
" 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
Last year I took part in a starling roundup in a feed barn at a research farm near St Louis. In the course of about 6 hrs we trapped and put down several 1000s starlings. I filled the back of my pickup with high quality protein. You may be able to find something like that close by. Just make sure they don't use poisons around the barns for rodent control. Also, freeze them in small lots so they don't turn bad before freezing. Kurt P.S. It helps to have an understanding wife when she opens the freezer to put away groceries.
Any good idea on keeping them alive after trapping?
Lots of water, and cat food. They pick up the cat food, and put it in the water, making a nasty little soup. They are the messiest, stinkiest creatures you will ever 'care' for. I have to clean my starling cage all the time, and I by no mean have a weak stomach, and they make me gag.
"We promised the world we'd tame it, what were we hoping for?" -Bloc Party
I agree, they stink! I always soak the cat food first, but doesn't matter, they still make a soup. I've also given them diced up fruit (usually old stuff I won't eat) And I'm sure they would eat small kibble dog food. I bought the cheapest cat food I could find.
Post by profalconer on Jan 12, 2009 16:36:23 GMT -5
My boss keeps starlings for film work. Now there are only 2 of them and he hand raised them so its probably not as bad as keeping a bunch at once. He feeds them puppy food which he also feeds his crows. Those starlings are really cool. He had an auger hawk in a giant hood for a couple nights and they started to mimick the sound that the auger makes! I walked into the garage and heard that sound and checked the giant hoods and no hawks. It was pretty funny!
Last Edit: Jan 12, 2009 16:37:51 GMT -5 by profalconer
Anyone?
Lol! My budgie wouldn't copy sounds if his life was on the line. Sounds messy, might just stick to sparrows.