Post by m4tt on Jan 20, 2009 20:37:10 GMT -5
Somewhere on this board, Yarak has posted his thoughts and mind set on the topic of free lofting. When I first took up this sport, I did not free loft; I did not really give it a full on go with my first red tail. It ended in what I previously thought a bad experience in general. After so many months of talking with people that past season, Yarak being one I decided to free loft during the molt and had a good experience with it. I had thought about it over and over again, wanting to try it with my next bird. Sadly, on Kitanas unfortunate death, with this new hawk I acquired a week later; I had a chance to try again. From the get go, this bird was a problem. I realized that free lofting might be the best choice regardless of any personal feelings, what my sponsor says, what others say.
Riva's attitude in general is one that is... touchy. Before I continue, with the help of a falconer in the area, I on purpose shaped her behavior to be aggressive towards me. She had fear issues and if they show aggression, they are not fearful. I also do jump ups, and other forms of exercise with her.
I had kept her in my room for the first parts of training and my parents where not very fond of the... aroma.. So I moved her into the mew, where I
did not like tethering her (in general). After I finally got my weathering yard built, I moved Riva into my weathering yard. This was effective, because
she could sun all day and safely be weathered. Needless to say, the only problem was she would relentlessly bate the second she heard my 4runner's
engine stop! (tested and proved).
My original solution was to move her into the mew to free loft, and that actually ended up dulling talons (
). But she dulled talons in the weathering also...
How was I fix this problem? I ended up taking some extra coroplast, and making vertical bars around my weathering yard, putting perches in it and freelofting her in it. This has worked wonderfully for me. Her attitude is just awesome, her feather perfect, her talons razor sharp, and her mindset is in the killing zone when I take her hunting. Although I can, and do occasionally hood her, since she has been free lofted I have not hooded her for the most part (occasionally when out hunting I will for different reasons). Her temperament in general has changed, she has become a much calmer, responsive hawk. Her weight has shot up from 1040 to a hunting weight of 1150 (thats 110g increase ;-) ). I have had no problems with her rushing the door, or being aggressive inside the chamber.
My conclusion, is that as an apprentice I believe that the original outcome when you start free lofting, is somewhat worrisome. While actually, it is the bird getting used to its new found freedoms. They might always start off a bit wild but as it goes on, the routines of life come into play and the bird calms down and gets into the regular motions. It is a beautiful thing to come home, open the door, put a glove in, have the bird land on it, pull her out, hop into a box, and go.
I think from now on I will always freeloft my raptors, regardless of species.
Some pictures of my set up:
Taken from the window of my dining room:
Her favorite perch:
She sleeps here, and hides from the rain! (boo Washington!)
The Top:
The Side with the door (wind blows hard this direction, and protects from rain):
There is a bow on the ground:
Hello!
Riva's attitude in general is one that is... touchy. Before I continue, with the help of a falconer in the area, I on purpose shaped her behavior to be aggressive towards me. She had fear issues and if they show aggression, they are not fearful. I also do jump ups, and other forms of exercise with her.
I had kept her in my room for the first parts of training and my parents where not very fond of the... aroma.. So I moved her into the mew, where I
did not like tethering her (in general). After I finally got my weathering yard built, I moved Riva into my weathering yard. This was effective, because
she could sun all day and safely be weathered. Needless to say, the only problem was she would relentlessly bate the second she heard my 4runner's
engine stop! (tested and proved).
My original solution was to move her into the mew to free loft, and that actually ended up dulling talons (
). But she dulled talons in the weathering also... How was I fix this problem? I ended up taking some extra coroplast, and making vertical bars around my weathering yard, putting perches in it and freelofting her in it. This has worked wonderfully for me. Her attitude is just awesome, her feather perfect, her talons razor sharp, and her mindset is in the killing zone when I take her hunting. Although I can, and do occasionally hood her, since she has been free lofted I have not hooded her for the most part (occasionally when out hunting I will for different reasons). Her temperament in general has changed, she has become a much calmer, responsive hawk. Her weight has shot up from 1040 to a hunting weight of 1150 (thats 110g increase ;-) ). I have had no problems with her rushing the door, or being aggressive inside the chamber.
My conclusion, is that as an apprentice I believe that the original outcome when you start free lofting, is somewhat worrisome. While actually, it is the bird getting used to its new found freedoms. They might always start off a bit wild but as it goes on, the routines of life come into play and the bird calms down and gets into the regular motions. It is a beautiful thing to come home, open the door, put a glove in, have the bird land on it, pull her out, hop into a box, and go.
I think from now on I will always freeloft my raptors, regardless of species.
Some pictures of my set up:
Taken from the window of my dining room:
Her favorite perch:
She sleeps here, and hides from the rain! (boo Washington!)
The Top:
The Side with the door (wind blows hard this direction, and protects from rain):
There is a bow on the ground:
Hello!
